The Crities started in 2023 as a means of recognizing riders and teams for their accomplishments. Think the Emmys, Tonys, Grammys, or the Oscars; but just with a lot more spandex. We never had any idea that people would get this excited about it that we’d need to build an archive for the winners:
BEST TEAM
2025: Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge/Twenty28.
There are teams that win races— and then there are teams that define a season. From coast-to-coast, Twenty28 showed what happens when talent meets structure, when every role matters and when the collective is stronger than any single result.
2024: Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge/Twenty24
2023: Legion of Los Angeles
2025: Team Cadency Cyclery: In a season where every start line felt deeper, and every finish faster, they didn’t just show up— they shaped the races. Week after week they brought a level of discipline, teamwork, and tactical confidence that made them the benchmark for what a road team can be.
2024: REIGN Storm
2023: Project Echelon
RIDER OF THE YEAR
2025: Marlies Mejias Garcia, Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge/Twenty28: Nineteen victories in just one season, simply superlative.
2024: Skylar Schneider, Miami Blazers.
2023: Marlies Mejias Garcia, Twenty24.
2025: Lucas Bourgoyne, Team Cadence. Why so serious? The man who electrified fans, the scene and racing all year long. From the sprinter’s lounge to the finishing line, he rode into the hearts of all the fans.
2024: Tyler Stites, Project Echelon
2023: Danny Summerhill, American Cycling Group
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
2025: Alexis Magner, Cynisca Cycling at Athens Twilight. It’s one thing to win a criterium monument— for most riders that is a defining moment of any career. It’s incredibly hard to win the same race twice, much less back-to-back. It’s awe inspiring to do it three years in a row.
2024: Kimberly Stoveld, AUTOMATIC/ABUS at Downer Avenue
2023: Marlies Mejias Garcia, Twenty24 at Gateway Cup
2025: Clever Martinez, Foundation/CCB at Athens Twilight. Going early, sticking it, lapping the field and taking the W.
2024: Ribble Rebellion at Spartanburg
2023: Justin Williams, Legion of Los Angeles at Blue Dome
BREAKTHROUGH RIDER OF THE YEAR
2025: Aline Seitz, UTC/ButcherBox. This is the rider who just didn’t improve— she arrived. She came to the US this year to started a dedicated criterium calendar for the first time and faced a major uphill learning curve. From modest success to winning Downer Avenue and ultimately the American Criterium Cup, is exactly what we call a breakthrough.
2024: Mara Roldan, Cynisca Cycling
2025: Maurice Ballerstedt, Rose Bikes. Yes in 2024 he was on MVDP’s MVPs and had a top 10 finish in the Vuelta a Espana, but when 2025 dawned the German turned his gaze west to America’s criterium shores. This year answered the question, what would happen if a World Tour pro decided to engage in real criterium racing and were not disappointed. When he showed up he was genuinely human, and not unbeatable. But eventually everything come in to focus and he found his way onto the podium again and again.
2024: Lucas Bourgoyne, Austin Outlaws
BREAKTHROUGH TEAM OF THE YEAR
2025: Fearless Femmes Racing. A team that truly rose to the occasion in 2025. Finishing the year 3rd in The Medal Count based exclusively on criterium finishes and just behind the perennial powerhouses. The trio of Paola Munoz, Byrony Botha, and Odette Lynch lead a resurgent squad to victory.
2025: Team Winston-Salem. From simply an idea in 2024 to serious contenders and race influencers. With big time wins by Owen Cole, a podium at Athens Twilight from a breakaway by Will Hardin, and then a stellar run at Tour of America’s Dairyland, they made a mark worthy of praise.