Criterium racing - bold characters and fierce rivalries

T showdown at the Clarendon Cup, Armed Forces Classic between 2024 U.S. Criterium Champion Knd Cuba’s M was a pure sprinting masterclass. Two of the fastest women on American soil going head-to-head in an all-out, unobstructed drag race to the line—and this time, it was Marlies by a tire width.

Crit racing is fueled by bold characters and fierce rivalries. Kendall has bested Marlies more than a few times—but it’s battles like these that elevate the sport. They push each other to study every move, refine every tactic. It’s intense, it’s fast, and it’s full of passion.

Criterium racing is the backbone of American cycling—a homegrown discipline that’s shaped champions, sparked rivalries, controversies, and drawn communities to street corners for decades. Its fast, gritty brilliance has endured while the broader road scene has risen, dipped, and evolved.

Over the past 20 years as a UCI team owner, I’ve watched the sport change—but crit racing has always been the thread that holds it all together. It’s where stories are made, legacies are built, and the heart of American cycling continues to beat.

I’ve never understood the urge to reinvent it—what we have works. The racing is electric, the characters are compelling—we just need to tell the stories better.

With an international field of over 100 women this weekend, It’s not just surviving —it’s thriving.

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