About USA CRITS

America has a rich history of criterium racing, a unique form of cycling that stresses high-speed races contested amidst a thriving urban atmosphere. Criterium racing has been the consistent backbone of American cycling since the 1920s when cycling was king. Although an unrecognized discipline by the world governing body of cycling, criterium racing brings a unique set of skills to the sport and as such needs its own ranking and points system.

Because criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets, they offer spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians and world and national champions up close as they ride at top speeds for up to two hours. Criterium racing’s ability to combine the most exciting elements of popular sports with the large-scale appeal of downtown arts and music festivals has made it the most enduring form of cycling in North America and the most spectator-friendly form of cycling with an ever-growing following of fans. When staged according to time-honored traditions, these races often draw more than 30,000 fans per event.

USA CRITS Series

Now in its 12th year, the USA CRITS Series is the premiere cycling series in the United States. USA CRITS was developed to feature criterium racers and to offer venues, teams, and riders the ability to excel in this unique discipline of cycling.

The events that form the USA CRITS Series represent more than 100 years of criterium racing and have the ideals that have made criterium racing an American legacy: challenging courses that showcase arts and entertainment districts, a large and growing base of spectators, broad community support, and strong marketing opportunities for partners.

Swagger LLC

As the country’s leading producer of criterium racing, currently producing over forty criterium events, Swagger has over 50 years of combined experience as a sports marketing and event management organization. Swagger has managed America’s premier criterium, the Twilight Criterium in Athens, GA, for 38 years and the only nationwide criterium series for the past 12 years.