That's just ugly. Someone I spoke with on the Turin ride likened it to the Snake Alley climb. Accurate?

I live in the neighborhood and ride it frequently.

It is like europe, particularly as you pass under the ski jump overhead..

If you go, make sure you practice the left turn during the downhill before you race. Yes, the hill is the biggest factor, but the second biggest factor is how fast you can take that turn.

i'm thinking of going to watch the races sunday and i've never been to a bike race before. can anyone recommend a place to sit/stand to watch it?

I've never been to Fox River Grove, but I bet the hill will be a fun place to watch. Bring your cowbell. Otherwise, try to get to just past the finish line by the end of the race so you can watch the sprint.

With rare exception, it's never hard to get a front-row seat at a bike race. Alas!

I rode this race last year and there should be three good viewing points. Start/Finish line (its on the far right of the above picture only about 100 meters at most from the bottom of the hill), on the hill, and the left turn at the bottom of the hill. If you've never been to a race, the bottom of the hill may be a nice spot because you'll see everyone taking it at about 35mph. It will give you a great perspective of how fast racing can be.

Last year I went to watch the race and I enjoyed 2 out of the 3 spots Tom mentioned above: 1) the hill, right as the road makes a sweeping turn to the right. You can see everyone coming up the hill and then continue up the hill a ways. 2) the downhill left turn. I watched this turn from above, but I don't think I got the full appreciation of the speed that you would get from the perspective of the riders coming at you.

I will say I enjoyed watching TomH suffer on the hill last year as he has made me suffer many times on Allen Rd :-). Sorry I will miss it this year.