The year’s biggest money will be on the line this weekend at the Tour of Elk Grove. Seriously, the money is ridiculous. Expect the competition to be fierce and the leashes short.

The criteriums take place on a flat 1.2-mile five-corner course. The first corner is a U-turn, not unlike what we experienced in Elgin. Expect packs to bunch up here. My advice is to try to stay in the middle: Go inside and you’ll get pinched and have to scrub a lot of speed. Go outside and you can misjudge the far curb. Stay tucked in the middle, follow a good wheel and don’t lose your cool when someone veers into your line. Whatever you do, downshift several clicks before you turn. You’ll need a massive acceleration out of this corner every time, and you don’t want to be overgeared.

The final stretch is long with a slight chicane. It’s a perfect spot for a two- or three-person leadout. Overeager sprinters who jump out of the corner will likely fade halfway to the line. Payouts go deep, so contest every position, but keep your head up so you don’t plow into someone who’s pulled the plug.

I count 26 turns in the road race that the pros will contest on Saturday. I can’t imagine this will be popular with them, but it should be very spectator friendly, and hopefully it can facilitate some breakaways, lest the overall be decided by Friday’s 4.5-mile time trial. Bring a lawn chair and newspaper and enjoy the action. They’ll do 10 laps, with sprints for cash and points with seven, five and two laps to go.

We should also see some exciting sprints in Sunday’s pro criterium with $3,700 in primes on the line, including $800 and 45 and 15 to go and $1,000 at 30 to go.

Saturday and Sunday Tour of Elk Grove USCF criteriums Elk Grove, Ill. Distance from Chicago: .5 hours Previous wrap-ups: 2007, 2008