What is a
Criterium
The New West Grand Prix is a criterium or crit. It’s a mass-start bike race contested on a tight, closed circuit the riders will lap 40-60 times in about an hour. If that sounds a little like Nascar racing, it’s an apt comparison, complete with multiple lead changes, bunch charges to the line, pit stops, chills and spills.
Tactics in a Criterium
No cyclist can maintain a sprint speed for an hour or so, so racers with aspirations to win a criterium must work together to dictate the pace, wear out potential challengers, shelter each other from the wind. There may be the odd privateer entered in the race, but most of the riders are affiliated with a team. The team will share the workload and protect the member they feel has the best chance to win the day.
Looking for Riders
Team Faltering
Victory
Hill Impact
What to Look for in a Criterium
While a criterium might look like a relentless, frenetic sprint to be the fastest, there’s a lot of subtle nuances going on from the moment the starting gun sends the riders off.