The Seven Monuments of U.S. Criterium Racing

There are some races that stand tall above the rest. Whether it be by virtue of the challenge of the course, the storied legacy of the race, or the love of the fans, there are simply podiums at some races that define not just a season but a career. We polled the community including top riders, team owners, cycling dignitaries, and humble fans to present this list of seven criteriums that have risen to the level of monuments of the sport:

Athens Twilight Criterium

For nearly 40 years Athens has been the jewel of the early season criterium calendar. Nestled near the ferny confines of the University of Georgia, and held right around graduation, this race has always had the highest level of racing and fans ready to celebrate. It also comes complete with one of the most daunting courses that has shattered fields. On numerous occasions that winning break has lapped the field, sometimes twice, and with a race that is 40km for the women and 80km for the men, only the strong survive to win here.

Prior Winners

2023

Men:

1. Bryan Gomez, Miami Nights

2. Danny Summerhill, American Cycling

3. Robin Carpenter, L39ion

2022

1. Bryan Gomez, Best Buddies

2. Ty Magner, L39ion

3. Liam White, ButcherBox

Tour of Somerville

The granddaddy of them all. Started in 1940, this race has survived a world war, pandemic, and hurricanes to become one of the most cherished weekends of our sport. The tree-lined streets of this gorgeous suburban New Jersey town have played host to some of the fastest and most intense racing the Mid-Atlantic can produce. The course was custom created for speed with wide-open stretches and plenty of room to maneuver. The fans turn out in force to celebrate, picnic, dog watch, and generally raise their voices. And with a men’s race of 80km, there is plenty of time for everything to play out and for the riders to actually be tested.

Prior Winners

2023

Men:

1. Danny Estevez, Miami Blazers

2. Cesar Marte, Road Kings

3. Noah Granigan, Denver Disruptors

2022

1. George Jackson, Mitoq

2. Alfredo Rodriguez, Best Buddies

3. Scott McGill, Wildlife Generation

The Clarendon Cup

A race that began with a droopy banner hung across the road during the first official weekend of the summer, has now become the test of 500 corners. As jaw-dropping as that number is, it is often not the number of corners that does the testing either; but rather the temperatures often reaching well into the upper 90s with classic Virginia heat. Clarendon is the only remaining 100km race (50km for the women) left in America. That distance provides time and tests the riders so that the winner here is not just the person who can sit in and sprint; but rather is one of the best all-around bike racers in country. The weak need not sign up for Clarendon. If you aren’t ready you are off the back.

Past Winners

2023

Men:

1. Andreas Mayr, Destroy Cycling

2. Danny Summerhill, American Cycling

3. Alec Cowan, L39ion

2022

1. Brendan Rhim, Wildlife Generation

2. Tanner Ward, Best Buddies

3. Johnnie Clark, Wildlife Generation

Cry Baby Hill

The final Monument of the “early” season is the famed last day of Tulsa Tough at Cry Baby Hill. Believe it or not this is the baby of the Monuments which was started in 2006. One potentially apocryphal origin story for the name stems not from the pain that the riders feel while going up the hill but rather from the local residents who, in the first additions of the race, complained about the event taking place. Tulsa must have ignored them because Sunday has grown to be a local holiday, and the following Monday is a day off to recover. If you’ve never been you should go. If you’ve been, you should go again. What makes Cry Baby Hill so challenging for the riders isn’t what you see pictured here, it’s what comes next. Just when you think the hill is over, it kicks up again, then again. You only get a few seconds of rest before starting it all over again. Sitting in and waiting…nah that’s not Cry Baby Hill’s style and neither can it be for the winners.

Past Winners

2023

Men:

1. Sam Boardman, L39ion

2. Noah Granigan, Denver Disruptors

3. Jonas Schmeiser, Destroy Cycling

2022

1. Luke Lamperti, Trinity Racing

2. Tom Gibbons, Automatic

3. Cesar Serna, Audi McKinney

Boise Twilight

The summer heat is full on for the speed-festival that is Boise Twilight. This race marks the ceiling of the Monuments at just under 3,000 feet above sea level. The brown exterior (it’s actually 4 different colors of marble none of which are brown) of the State of Idaho’s capitol building makes a tremendous backdrop for bike racing and blends perfectly into the mountains in the distance. For nigh on 30 years the best in the country have climbed the slopes up to the city by the woods (“les bois” or “‘les riviere boisee” for the French speakers). This is a race for the sprinters; but not just any old fast person can win. Over time this race has developed into a race where the most skilled teams, and not just the strongest legs, prevail. It’s the full package and you need to be as well to win.

Past Winners

2023

Men:

1. Ty Magner, L39ion

2. Cory Williams, L39ion

3. Danny Summerhill, American Cycling

2022

1. Ty Magner, L39ion

2. Luke Lamperti, Trinity Racing

3. Michael Hernandez, Best Buddies

The Hill

Since 1986 The Hill has been the site of one St. Louis’ most defining sporting scenes. The race series that grew around The Hill, Gateway Cup, has become a staple of the Labor Day holiday so much so that people no longer look at you strange when you say you are heading there for the long weekend. The Hill takes its name from the delightful Italian neighborhood in which the race is run; that, not unsurprisingly, is situated on a hill. This takes an ordinary four-corner crit and knocks it up a notch. The hill on the course provides a tremendous spring board for late race moves and strong-person efforts. The most narrow side of the course is at the top of the hill just before you dive bomb down towards the finish often topping out well over 60 kph. This has given many a late race opportunity to the men and women capable of producing sustained watts for a few desperate laps; thereby depriving the sprinters of their day of glory. But don’t forget the crowds. The corners are flushed with fans and the straightaways feature front-yard parties spilling out to the edges of the course. It is everything you want in bike racing.

Past Winners

2023

Men:

1. Danny Summerhill, American Cycling

2. Noah Granigan, Denver Disruptors

3. Frank Travieso, Miami Nights

2022

1. Danny Summerhill, American Cycling

2. Clever Martinez, Miami Blazers

3. Alfredo Rodriguez, Best Buddies

Bucks County

The World Tour Monuments have their race of the falling leaves, so do we. Just outside of Philly, and running for the past 20 years, is the site of the final Monument and a true classic American criterium. It comes complete with corners, bends, uphills and downhills. All of those obstacles are made to obliterate fields and the past editions of the race have proven that the course’s design has succeeded. Another wonderful feature of this race is that it is long enough to be a race— 80km for the men (40km for the women). It is also co-located with an arts festival meaning worlds collide and fans are born.

Past Winners

2023

Men:

1. Robin Carpenter, L39ion

2. Tyler Stites, Project Echelon

3. Kyle Murphy, L39ion

2022

1. Scott McGill, Wildlife Generation

2. Danny Summerhill, Best Buddies

3. Ethan Craine, Project Echelon