FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A criterium, also known as a "crit", is a lapped race on a closed course set on public roads. Laps are usually a half-mile to 1.5 miles long, typically with 4-6 turns. Hundreds of racers can pack a course, traveling around corners at +30 mph!

A criterium is an intense race on a short, closed course, while road races are long, endurance-based races held on the open road.

Criteriums like the Intelligentsia Cup involve repeated laps for a predetermined amount of time. Officials monitor the lap times at the start of the race to determine how many laps remain. Racers are awarded points based on their placement in the race. Points are totaled to determine placement for the entire event.

Success in road criteriums requires good technical skills, such as the ability to ride in a large group while cornering at high rates of speed and sprinting. Racing with a team allows for more strategy and blocking tactics over the course of the race.