Famous Criteriums

Introduction: Why Criteriums Have Cult Status

Criteriums are among the most spectacular formats in road cycling. Unlike monumental one-day races over 250 kilometres, they take place on short circuits – often right in city centres, around festival tents or at historic squares. Spectators see the peloton race past dozens of times, hear tyres crunching on cobblestones and witness sprint preparation in real time.

Hundreds of criteriums exist worldwide – from small club events to races with Tour de France winners on the start list. This article presents the best-known and most influential ones, places them regionally and explains what makes them special.

Post-Tour Criteriums: Stars on Display and Hard Racing

The most traditional category is post-Tour criteriums – events immediately after the Tour de France, where yellow jersey wearers and stage winners tour through French cities. They emerged in the 1930s as folk festivals and a source of income for professionals during the off-season.

Classics Among Post-Tour Criteriums

1. Critérium de Castillon-la-Bataille (France): One of the oldest and most prestigious post-Tour criteriums in south-west France; regularly attracts top riders from the just-completed Tour.
2. Critérium de Longjumeau: Traditional race in the Île-de-France with a tight city circuit and high spectator density.
3. Critérium de Boulogne-Billancourt: Historically significant race in the greater Paris area, often with strong media interest.
4. Post-Giro Criteriums (Italy): After the Giro d'Italia, similar formats take place in cities such as Assisi, Savona or Rovigo – with pink jersey wearers as the main attraction.
5. Saitama Criterium (Japan): International show event after the Tour that promotes cycling in Asia and regularly brings world-class riders to Tokyo.

Post-Tour criteriums combine showmanship with serious racing. Start money is attractive, the laps short and explosive.

Development of Post-Tour Criteriums

Belgium and the Netherlands: Kermis Races as a Folk Sport

In Flanders and the Netherlands, criteriums are deeply rooted in the culture. Kermis races (Dutch: kermiskoersen) take place during local fair festivals – often in the middle of the night, with narrow village streets and a celebrating crowd right at the roadside.

Particularities of the Flemish Scene

• Tight course layout: Village streets with 90-degree corners, canal bridges and cobblestones
• Night-time start times: Many races begin after 10 p.m., when the main kermis period ends
• Strong start fields: WorldTour teams often send their own squads or loan riders to local organisers
• Primes culture: Cash primes every lap motivate constant attacks

Well-known kermis races include Dwars door Wingene, Omloop der Kempen (criterium format) and numerous smaller events in West Flanders. For young riders, they are often the first contact with professional pelotons at the highest pace.

USA and Canada: The Crit Racing Scene

In North America, the criterium has developed into a distinct discipline – independent of the European season calendar. American crit racing emphasises technical corners, team tactics and national championship formats.

The US scene has produced its own stars and shapes the training of many professionals: explosive repetitions, tight corners and constant battles for position.

Germany and Central Europe: City Races with Tradition

In Germany, criteriums are firmly anchored in the regional cycling calendar. They serve clubs as a source of income, bring professionals into contact with local fans and often prepare the season highlight of a cycling festival.

Well-Known German and Central European Formats

1. Cycling festival criteriums around the Cyclassics: In the Hamburg area and at other German cycling events, professional criteriums take place regularly – often on the same weekend as major one-day races.
2. Rund um die Sachsenring (criterium): Traditional race with a tight circuit on and around the famous motorsport venue.
3. Sparkassen Giro Bochum: Combination of mass participation run and professional criterium in the Ruhr area.
4. Austrian night criteriums: Formats in Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg with evening races and festival character.
5. Prague Bike Fest / Czech city races: Growing scene in Central Europe with urban circuits.

German criteriums are subject to BDR rules and are divided into licence classes. UCI permits occasionally attract WorldTour teams.

Professional Criteriums with UCI Status

Some criteriums have UCI classification and count towards the international calendar. They differ from pure show events through stricter rules, doping controls and points for the UCI rankings.

Legendary Moments and Defining Winners

Criteriums have produced unforgettable scenes – from spectacular crashes on tight courses to lapping displays by individual dominators.

Defining Riders in the Criterium

• Eddy Merckx dominated post-Tour criteriums in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Erik Zabel celebrated numerous victories after the Tour de France.
• Peter Sagan and Marianne Vos brought showmanship and dominance to modern city races.
• US crit specialists such as Justin Williams shaped the North American scene in their own right.

Amateur Criteriums: Grassroots Sport and Youth Development

Besides professional events, a vibrant amateur and youth scene exists. Local clubs organise criteriums as the season highlight – often with several races on the same day.

Typical Amateur Classes

1. U11 to U17: Short laps, reduced fields, focus on safety and technique
2. Hobby / Masters: Age groups from 30+, often afternoon start times
3. Elite amateurs: Licence required, full race distance, qualification for national championships
4. Women's and mixed formats: Growing offering, especially in urban centres

For young riders, criteriums are ideal: Short courses allow intensive observation by coaches, repeated effort trains cornering technique and positioning. Many European professionals started at local kermis races or club criteriums.

Experiencing a Criterium as a Spectator

• Arrive early – best spots at bottlenecks and finish straights
• Pay attention to wind direction – tailwind sections bring the highest pace
• Watch the prime boards – attacks are often announced laps in advance
• Keep children behind barriers, not on the outside of corners
• Bring earplugs for small children – pelotons are loud
• Check the programme: professional races often in the evening
• Use live lap displays for tension and drama
• Stay after the finish – autograph sessions are common

Economic Significance and Future

Criteriums are an important source of income for professionals – especially after Grand Tours, when season fees are already secured and start money from post-Tour events brings additional earnings. For organisers, sponsors and the local economy, they are marketing tools: city centres are closed off, hotels are fully booked, regional brands gain visibility.

The future lies in live streams and urban event design. Post-Tour criteriums struggle with the scheduling pressure of modern season calendars.

Tactical Particularities of Famous Courses

Every well-known criterium has its own tactical DNA:

Tightest Corners and Technical Key Points

• Gastown (Vancouver): Cobblestones require aggressive line choice and high tyre pressure
• Driveway (Austin): Short climb per lap favours light climbers and punchers
• Flemish kermis: Narrow roads – whoever is at the back often loses contact for good
• Post-Tour final laps: Wider boulevards favour sprint teams with classic lead-out tactics

Prime Sprint in a Criterium

Conclusion

Famous criteriums form their own universe in cycling – between folk festival, professional sport and spectacle. The spectrum ranges from French post-Tour traditions through Flemish kermis nights to US crit series. Anyone who wants to understand the criterium as a discipline cannot ignore these events: they show cycling in its most accessible, intense and spectator-friendly form.