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Detroit hosted it’s inaugural CRITERIUM DETROIT CITY event on July 9th, 2011. The first Criterium Race in downtown Detroit in over 20 years was amazing.  We will be bringing the crit back again in 2013!  We hope that the 300 of you that participated in the inaugural year will be back again to see all the changes and improvements.

Our race offered all of the drama and excitement of a NASCAR race paired with the Tour de France, a criterium bicycle race is a closed circuit race course where cyclists speed along at speeds of up to 40 mph. The short race course provides opportunity to view the entire race, start to finish, while standing a hand’s breath away from the different racers as they battle it out for first place. CRITERIUM DETROIT CITY featured several different race categories, including beginner, professional, children’s and a relay race. A market place showcasing some of the vast amount of Detroit's creative talent will be set up, we invite you to come shop and explore the city that we all love while cheering on your favorite cyclists and enjoying entertaining racing.

What Is A Criterium?

A criterium, or more commonly referred to as a "crit," is a short, multi-lap, closed circuit road cycling race traditionally held in an urban setting with its roots in Europe. In this instance, the race incorporates a start and finish on Broadway and includes some wicked turns in and through Harmonie Park within Downtown Detroit. This affords spectators the opportunity to see the racers each lap, observe the action as it unfolds, and actually feel the action and excitement. Because the course is short (usually less than a mile), it is common for fans to "walk the course" and see the action from a variety of vantage points. (Think NASCAR for bicycles, but you're not stuck in your seat the whole time.) Envision, too, Broadway lined on both sides with banners, flags and cheering race fans ringing their race bells as cyclists battle it out. Crit racing provides day-long excitement where spectators can experience the adrenaline rush up close. This explains why criterium racing is the most popular form of competitive road cycling in the US.