About the USA Cycling

National Racing Calendar Currently in its 12th season, the National Racing Calendar (NRC) is an all-inclusive road cycling series sanctioned and owned by USA Cycling which features the nation’s top Pro-Am events in the United States. With a total prize list of $1.2 million and an overall ranking system that determines the country’s best men’s and women’s individual cyclists and cycling teams at the end of the season, the NRC is the premier season-long national-level calendar that features both professional and amateur cyclists. The 34-race NRC consists of all forms of competitive road cycling – multi-day stage races, criteriums, time trials, omniums and single-day road and circuit races. For more information on the NRC, visit www.usacycling.org/nrc, or to become a part of the United States’ premier Pro-Am road cycling series, contact USA Cycling National Events Director, Justin Rogers at 719-866-3266 or jrogers@usacycling.org.

About USA Cycling

Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams. Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo-cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization. USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women’s National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars. USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling. USA cycling further supports grass roots and locally-based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org. For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867 or alee@usacycling.org.

Information on USA Crit Series-

http://www.usacrits.com

Series Info

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’s has been the consistent backbone of American cycling since the 20’s 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. USA CRITS has been developed to feature these riders and to offer venues, teams and riders the ability to excel in a unique discipline of cycling. Because criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets, they offer spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians, world and national champions up-close as they ride at top speed for up to two hours. This has made the criterium format the most spectator-friendly form of cycling. When staged according to time-honored traditions, these races often draw more than 30,000 fans per event. The races that form the proposed USA CRITS series 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 sponsors

Series Calendar
Athens Twilight				Athens, GA		April 26
Tulsa Tough 				Tulsa, OK		June 1
Harlem Skyscraper Classic		New York, NY		June 15
AT&T Downtown Austin Criterium		Austin, TX		June 21
Iron Hill Twilight Criterium		West Chester, PA	July 5
BC Cancer Foundation's Tour de Gastown	Vancouver, BC		July 16
Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium		Boise, ID		July 19
Presbyterian Invitational Criterium	Charlotte, NC		August 2
Chris Thater Memorial Criterium		Binghamton, NY		August 24
USA Crits Finals			Las Vegas, NV		September 25