About The Cambridge Criterium
The 2024 Cambridge Criterium is a new festival of cycling in Cambridge City, taking place on Sunday 25 August.
Our aim is to bring professional cycle racing back to the UK’s cycling capital for the first time since the 2014 Tour de France. It’s a free-to-attend event with an open ride for the public on traffic-free roads, amateur and novelty races, and headline races for elite and professional cyclists.
There will be an event village on Jesus Green with street food vendors, music, corporate hospitality, and industry exhibition stalls to provide additional entertainment.
Unlike a road race with long distances, The Cambridge Criterium will be a condensed, traffic-free 2.6km circuit around Jesus Green. This will transform the heart of Cambridge into a vibrant hub for residents and attendees of all ages and will see exciting spectator-focused races, gender-equal participation and prize fund, and a live broadcast.
This event is based on the time-proven and incredibly successful criterium format, commonly used in Belgium and the Netherlands, but popular across the world for its spectator-focused racing and community celebrations.
The open ride to the Public – Let’s Ride
Get involved no matter your level and enjoy the traffic-free roads before the racing starts!
The Cambridge Criterium Let’s Ride is a free ride for cyclists of all ages and abilities. This offers a chance for everyone from new cyclists to regular commuters no matter if you’re eight or eighty.
Pre-enter below and we will send you more information closer to the event – we want everyone to give cycling a go.
https://cambridge.monumentcycling.com/free-ride
What is a criterium?
If you’re new to cycle racing, you may have some questions about the sport and what, exactly, a criterium is. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this short explainer, we’ll take you through the basics of a ‘crit’, what to expect, and what’s involved in the racing!
Imagine a thrilling bike race, not on winding country roads, but on a closed city circuit buzzing with energy. That’s the essence of criterium racing, a short, sharp, and tactical battle fought over multiple laps.
Criteriums take place on short, closed loops, typically ranging from 1-3km. These courses pack a punch, featuring tight turns, short climbs, and maybe even a sprint over cobblestones. With laps usually lasting just a few minutes, riders experience explosive bursts of speed, constantly manoeuvring for position and testing their physical and mental limits.
The races themselves are structured for intensity. Think 45-60 minutes of non-stop action, with anywhere from 30 to 100 laps depending on the course. Some even have intermediate sprints (‘primes’), where the first rider over the line on that lap earns money or prizes, adding another layer of excitement.
At the end of the race, the first rider across the line wins.
However, teamwork plays a crucial role. While some individual stars shine, strong teams orchestrate attacks, control the pace, and protect their leaders. Riders use drafting to tuck in behind teammates to conserve energy and launch strategic attacks. It’s a chess game on wheels, where cunning tactics and split-second decisions can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Feel free to explore our website for more information https://cambridge.monumentcycling.com/
Finally, please do not hesitate to contact the team if you have any questions at info@monumentcycling.com
Facilities
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Disabled Accessibility
- Facilities for Disabled Guests
Accessibility Facilities
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Mostly flat terrain
- Wheel chair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
