Rochester Twilight Criterium and Festival brings back beloved bike races. What to know

Natalia Rodríguez Medina, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read

Fans of cycling and running rejoice. The MVP Health Care Rochester Twilight Criterium and Festival returns to the city's downtown Saturday, May 21, for the 11th year and now will be part of a new 10-race series called the American Criterium Cup or ACC.

The action-packed event will feature bicycling, a runners' mile-long competitions and even a big wheel kids race in collaboration with the Strong National Museum of Play.

"Criteriums are best explained as a uniquely American-style bike race. The 9-corner course, located right in the center of Rochester is considered one of the world’s best," organizers explained in a press release.

The Rochester Twilight Criterium is the second event in the 10-race series from ACC and will feature athletes from all around the country and world. Aside from MVP Health Care, the event is sponsored by Full Moon Vista Bike & Sport which is also coordinating the logistics of the event.

The official course map and schedule for the Rochester Twilight Criterium and Festival.
The official course map and schedule for the Rochester Twilight Criterium and Festival.

Each race starts and finishes on the Broad Street Bridge over the Genesee River. The event kicks off with the Kids Big Wheel Racing at 2:45 p.m.

The highlight races of the day are:

  • The Rochester mile: will feature one-mile races for elite female and male runners competing for a $10,000 purse (equally split between men and women)

  • USA Track & Field Masters National 1-Mile Championship: This separate men’s and women’s race will bring elite athletes from all over the US to Rochester to compete to become the National

  • American Criterium Cup (ACC): This criterium race will start on Broad Street and take several turns across Rochester's Downtown for over 60 minutes for women, and 90 minutes for men.

For the full schedule, visit https://rochestercrit.com/

Organizers said in a written statement that this event draws out thousands of spectators every year. A food truck rodeo and beer garden will be available after 4 p.m. for spectators.

How to watch the livestream

In partnership with ACC, Outside Magazine will livestream the Twilight Criterium on https://americancritcup.com/media/outside-livestream/

On Saturday, May 21, the Professional Women’s Outside Plus race begins at 6:10 p.m. and the Professional Men’s Outside Plus race starts at 8:15 p.m.

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Natalia Rodríguez Medina is a bilingual reporter covering the Puerto Rican and Latino population for the Democrat and Chronicle in partnership with Report for America. Follow her on Twitter at @nataliarodmed or email her at nrodriguezmedina@gannett.com. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Twilight Criterium and Festival bike races return Saturday