A core group of cycling stakeholders, including criterium race directors, cycling teams and USA Cycling, announced the formation of a new professional criterium series on Friday.
The new domestic series will promote the uniquely American road discipline of criterium racing and allow for the storytelling of athletes and events.
A criterium is a bike race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit.
“Criteriums are the dominant form of competitive road cycling in the U.S. and have proven to be popular with the public and sponsors,” said Malcolm McCollam, executive director of the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough.
The new series will offer $100,000 in overall prize money and support, equally split between the men and women in addition to individual event prize purses. The series’ founding races will include the Littleton Criterium Aug. 6 as well as the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough (June 10-12), ASWD Twilight Criterium in Boise, Idaho (July 9), Salt Lake Criterium (July 16-17), Momentum Indy (Aug. 27-28), and the Bommarito Audi Gateway Cup in Saint Louis, Missouri, Sept. 2-5.
All the events are committed to awarding equal prize money for the pro men’s and women’s fields in their prospective races.
A group representing the stakeholders is assessing applications from other top events, including Pro Road Tour and L39ION events, to complete the series. The final events in the series will be announced in January.
“Cycling teams and athletes have historically had to just accept what events put forward with limited to no say,” said Lauren Dodge, interim president of the National Association of Cycling Teams. “We are excited that USA Cycling and event directors are making the effort to work with the NACT taking into consideration the unified voice of teams and riders. Putting teams and athletes first is a step in the right direction for the entire sport.”
