American Crit Cup 2026: The Complete Season Preview

Everything you need to know about the fastest, most exciting series in American cycling

Written by: Zach Nehr

It’s 8:58 pm in the middle of downtown USA, and there is a flashing light pulsing on the side of the road. The culprits speed down the streets as a booming voice comes through on the loudspeaker. “One thousand dollar prime on the next lap!” says the voice echoing through the shadows. This isn’t a street race, roller derby, or backyard football game – this is the American Criterium Cup.

Hundreds of cyclists have traveled from around the world to race this one-mile loop. Some of them had never been to the US before. Others have been sleeping on an air mattress in a stranger’s house for the past week. Some of these riders crashed yesterday, bandaged themselves this morning, and lined up for this evening’s race.

In contrast to the luxurious lifestyles that many professional cyclists live, crit racers are sometimes scrambling just to get to the start line. They don’t live in Monaco or Andorra, have nutritionists or chefs, or enjoy post-race massages. Instead, they are packing their own bags, sorting logistics, and finding sponsors all while training for the biggest races of their lives.

It all happens in the blink of an eye: a pack of 100+ racers going 30 miles per hour around city blocks, sprinting for primes and the finish line. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins, but there is even more at stake in the premier crit-racing series in the US: the American Crit Cup. This is the complete ACC Season Preview.

What is the American Crit Cup?

When you see the American Crit Cup (ACC) in-person, you can expect to stand two feet from the barriers and feel the whoosh of the wind as the pack flies past. You’ll see the world’s best crit racers 50 times in an hour, at speeds so high they look like a blur. You are not only watching the race, but you are feeling the race with the pumping in your chest and the goosebumps on your arms.

The ACC brings that feeling to some of America's biggest cities, while also platforming a season-long points competition that crowns eight different overall champions in the men's, women's, and two junior fields (two each in the red jersey of Overall Champion and green jersey of Sprint Champion). In 2026, the series is back with a six-race series that is more unpredictable than ever before.

How the ACC Works: Points, Primes, and Overall Champions

The ACC operates on a points-based system across six rounds of racing throughout the season (full schedule below). Here's what you need to know:

Race Points are awarded to the top finishers at every event — the better you place, the more points you earn. The winner of each race earns 40 points, with second earning 36 points, and 3rd earning 32 points. Riders earn points down to 30th place (1 point). The leader of the Overall series will wear the red leader’s jersey into the following race, much like the leader of the Tour de France wearing the famous yellow jersey.

Mid Race Prime occurs in the middle of each race, awarding a certain number of points and cash to the first three riders across the line. The ring of a bell is the mid-race signal that the Mid Race Prime is coming on the next lap, and in the ACC, the leader of this sprint competition will wear the green jersey as the Davis Phinney Foundation Sprint Leader. Amidst the fight for the finish, watch out for riders sprinting for these valuable mid-race primes.

Overall Points determine the series standings, with riders accumulating points across all six rounds of racing. In order to become the Overall Champion, riders must balance prime hunting with race wins to accumulate as many points as possible. With no throwaway races, every place and every point counts towards a rider’s season total. Look for the Overall leader of the ACC wearing the red jersey in each race.

Team Overall Points are calculated by adding the point totals of each team’s top 3 point earners at each event. This is another season-long competition that pays out thousands of dollars in prize money, equally split between the top three men’s and top three women’s teams. Teams are capped at six riders in each race, forcing teams to carefully craft their schedules to maximize point totals in each event.

The Junior Series runs alongside the elite competition, giving the next generation of American crit racers their own championship to chase. The ACC’s dedicated Junior Series might be the most important thing the series does, and it is supported by Renaissance Financial who is also the largest sponsor of the ACC.

It’s no secret that the junior pathway to professional bike racing is narrow, especially in the US. Without exposure to professional-level events, the next generation of American crit racers would struggle to develop. The ACC Junior Series addresses that directly.

Junior riders will compete on the same courses as the pros, in front of the same crowds, with their own championship standings and prize structure. The experience of racing at a national event — the speed, the atmosphere, the pressure — is something that can't be replicated in training. Two different junior fields will compete for Overall and Sprint titles: junior 15-16 and junior 17-18 age categories.

Several current ACC elite riders came through junior racing, and the series has an explicit goal of building that pipeline: turning junior competitors into the next wave of American professional cyclists. You can follow along and read more about the ACC Junior Series here.

For a detailed breakdown of the ACC points structure, check out the Series Rules.

2026 ACC Race Calendar

The 2026 ACC season spans the entire summer, visiting six cities across the US. The season begins at Tulsa Tough — one of the most legendary events in the entire country — before making its way to the Midwest for Race #2. In addition to being excellent hosts, each city was selected for a combination of course character, community support, and overall atmosphere, matching the ACC’s spine-tingling energy at every stop along the way.

Race #1: Saint Francis Tulsa Tough | June 5th | Tulsa, Oklahoma
Race #2: Tour of America's Dairyland | June 27th | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Race #3: Bailey & Glasser LLP Twilight Crit | July 11th | Boise, ID
Race #4: CHICAGO GRIT Fulton Market Grand Prix | July 26th | Chicago, IL
Race #5: Salt Lake Criterium | August 15th | Salt Lake City, UT
Race #6: Bommarito Automotive Group Gateway Cup|September 6th|St. Louis, MO

All races apart from the Tour of America's Dairyland (which offers a free internet radio broadcast) and Bailey & Glasser LLP Twilight Crit will be livestreamed. You can access the free livestreams for each race HERE.

Full calendar details available at americancritcup.com

Thus the stage is set: six races, tens of thousands of dollars on the line, and hundreds of hungry crit racers chasing the biggest prize purses in America. Next, we’ll take a closer look at the favorites for the 2026 American Crit Cup. First up, the Elite Teams.

The Teams: Who's Competing in 2026

One of the most unique aspects of cycling is that it is both an individual and team sport. Only one rider can cross the line first, but rarely do they get there on their own. The best cycling teams are tight-knit groups of friends who spend months traveling across the world together. They post up in Wisconsin host houses, and ride through downtown Tulsa during their warm up. Teammates split gas money on their way from one race to the next, and help each other fix a flat tire whether they’re in a cornfield or downtown Chicago.

Criterium racing is a team sport, and the ACC features some of the deepest and most talented squads the scene has ever assembled. There are some major newcomers to watch out for this year, and plenty of seasoned veterans searching for the top step of the podium. Here's your guide to the teams to watch:

MEN’S TEAMS TO WATCH

**Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing**

A squad with serious depth, Cadence Cyclery has developed a reputation for smart racing — they manage primes strategically, protect their sprinters, and peak at the right moments to take huge wins. Watch for Team Cadence Cyclery in the closing laps of every race. Their star rider is US National Criterium Champion, Lucas Bourgoyne. More on him in a minute.

**Foundation New York**

Going elbow-to-elbow with Team Cadence Cyclery in every round of the ACC will be Foundation New York, a cohesive team that thrives in technical, high-intensity crits. You will see the names Bryan Gomez, Jordan Parra, and Marcos Mendez over and over again. They are some of the most explosive finishers in the world who are equally as dangerous from a small group or a full field sprint. They also have Clever Martinez, another Colombian who should feature heavily in sprint finishes all season.

**L39ION of Los Angeles**

The most recognizable name in American crit racing, L39ION was built from the ground up to change the face of the sport. Founded with a mission to diversify professional cycling and increase accessibility, L39ION has become a powerhouse in racing and a cultural force far beyond it. Their riders are fast, their kit is iconic, and their presence at any race is guaranteed to shake things up.

Other teams to watch: Chaney Windows and Doors/Big Shark (with 2025’s Green Jersey winner Owen Gillot), Velovit Elite, AUTOMATIC | ABUS Racing, Newtype Cycling, The Racing Division p/b PACE Coaching, and more.

WOMEN’S TEAMS TO WATCH

**Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing**

A serious contender filled with race-winning firepower, Caldera Medical x Aurea brings together climbers, puncheurs, and sprinters capable of winning on any type of course. Their roster flexibility makes them difficult to plan against. They have already taken some major wins this year, including the Sunny King Criterium, and Athens Twilight with US National Criterium Champion Kendall Ryan.

**Kingdom Elite Racing**

Kingdom Elite has been building momentum early this season, taking major wins with riders like Liza Ray and Elizabeth Harden. Watch for them to challenge for the top step of the podium, both for individual race wins and the ACC Team Classification.

**Team Winston Salem-FLOW**

Based in the heart of North Carolina's cycling culture, Winston Salem-FLOW is going for big wins this year with star rider Rebecca Lang. Their cohesive roster has already notched some big results in 2026.

Other teams to watch: HigherDOSE-Renova, AUTOMATIC | ABUS Racing, United Cycling Women, One Hart Racing–Nashville Local Cycling, and more.

Riders to Watch: Men

There are a number of big names to watch out for throughout the ACC Season. Below, we’ll mention key riders, as well as their team names so that you can spot them under the lights at 30 mph.

**Lucas Bourgoyne (Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing)**

Fast, aggressive, and tactical, the US National Crit Champ is a rider who races with confidence — he's not afraid to go early, not afraid to go the long way around, and not afraid to make the kind of move that either wins the race or blows up in spectacular fashion. Bourgoyne is everything that crit racing stands for, and you can spot him in the stars and stripes jersey during the race, and in a cowboy hat at all other times.

**Marcos Mendez (Foundation New York)**

You could easily include the entire Foundation New York squad here, as it’s hard to pick out one rider above the rest. That is the inherent strength of this team, and Mendez is often the rider who comes out on top. His timing, acceleration, and positioning under pressure are elite, so don’t take your eyes off him or teammate, Bryan Gomez, in the final few hundred meters.

**Danny Summerhill (Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing)**

A veteran presence in the American crit scene, Summerhill brings experience and race-reading ability that younger riders are still building. He knows how to read a race, and he’s brought that wisdom to one of the most dangerous teams in the series: Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing. That knowledge is worth more than most people realize, and you can expect to see Summerhill patrolling the front at key moments throughout the ACC season.

**Michael Garrison (Speed Studio x Basso Bikes)**

Garrison is one of the most fascinating athletes in the ACC field — a rider who genuinely competes at the highest level of both criterium racing and gravel racing, two disciplines that demand very different physiological profiles. Crits are explosive and tactical, whereas gravel is sustained and relentless. Garrison thrives at both, and he's spent the last few months traveling around the world to race his bike. How he balances the training demands of two entirely different race types while competing at an elite level in each is one of the more compelling subplots of the 2025 season. He's the kind of rider who proves that athletic intelligence matters as much as raw talent.

**Luke Fetzer (Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing)**

Fetzer is only 20 years old, but he is already a six-time US National Champion. He is one of those riders that could become a superstar in the next few years, while now he is perhaps more of a consistent performer and team player with Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing.

Riders to Watch: Women

**Kendall Ryan (Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing)**

One of the most decorated sprinters in American crit racing history, Ryan has won more races than most riders will ever contest. She's been doing this at the elite level for years and shows no sign of slowing down. In any sprint finish with Ryan in it, the baseline assumption should be that she will be contesting for the win.

**Skylar Schneider**

One of the few riders who has raced professionally in Europe and then returned to US crit racing, Schneider is one of the favorites in any race she enters. She has won so many races that it’s impossible to keep count, and that is only part of what makes her one of the overall favorites for the ACC title.

**Elizabeth Harden (Kingdom Elite Racing)**

Harden is part of the strong Kingdom Elite Racing squad, and she’s already racked up impressive results in 2026. She's the kind of rider capable of winning in many different race scenarios, which makes her nearly impossible to neutralize tactically.

**Liza Ray (Kingdom Elite Racing)**

Alongside Harden is teammate Liza Ray, one of the most consistent performers in women's crit racing. Ray is a genuine contender for the overall title, one to watch at each prime point and finishing sprint.

**Andrea Cyr (HigherDOSE | Renova)**

Dr. Andrea Cyr is one of the most seasoned racers in the entire ACC. Not only has she been there–done that, Dr. Cyr has finished on the podium multiple times in the ACC. Watch for her and the HigherDOSE | Renova team in every race, especially Odette Lynch who has been in fine form in 2026.

**Rebecca Lang (Team Winston Salem-FLOW)**

Lang brings power and presence to every race she enters. She's a rider capable of animating the front of the race, or sprinting for the win. Look for her as a key part of the Team Winston Salem-FLOW squad.

**Elizabeth Castaño**

Castaño is part of the ultra-strong Colombian contingency in the ACC, both in the men’s and women’s fields. Her strong pedigree combined with raw power and explosivity make her capable of winning any race on the calendar.

**Laurel Rathbun (Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing)**

If there's one storyline to follow all season, it might be Laurel Rathbun's. After a period away from competition — dealing with serious injuries that would have ended many athletes' careers — Rathbun has come back to elite crit racing in a way many thought was impossible.
Rathbun has not only come back to racing, she has returned to winning them. She took the title at the Sunny King Criterium, and finished 7th at Athens Twilight while working for her teammate and race-winner, Kendall Ryan.

Race #1 Preview: Tulsa Tough

ACC Race Day: June 5, 2026
Series Dates: June 5-7, 2026
Tulsa, Oklahoma

There are few American bike races more iconic than Tulsa Tough. Under the lights at the Blue Dome District Criterium, the ACC race at Tulsa Tough is an epic season opener. As riders enter the final few laps, you can feel the hairs stand up on your neck, and a shiver down your spine.

The speeds are incredible, the way the riders lean into each corner is nerve-wracking, and the way the crowd erupts as the field rounds the final corner. It all kicks off on June 5th with Race #1 of the American Crit Cup.

The Course – Tulsa Tough

The Blue Dome Crit course is a simple one: shaped like a bowtie with eight corners on wide city roads. The surface is lightning -fast, so much so that riders can pedal through most of the corners. There are four long straightaways, and four short ones, which means there is very little time to move up through the pack. Riders will have their elbows out before each prime, and especially before the finish. Watch for high speeds and a big bunch sprint in the Blue Dome Criterium.

The Atmosphere in Tulsa

Each race on the ACC calendar comes with a unique vibe and energy. Some races take place in quiet neighborhoods, others in the middle of a big city. Tulsa has its own culture, with the Blue Dome Crit taking place in more of an industrial area packed with local businesses.

Crowds three to four deep cheer on every corner, and the community turns out in force, creating the kind of atmosphere that transforms a simple bike race into a massive community event. The riders will tell you that Tulsa Tough feels different. The noise, the proximity of the crowds, and the stakes of opening the season on the right foot all combine into something that's hard to explain until you're inside the race.

Who Wins in Tulsa?

In the men's race, the opening round of the ACC typically favors sprint specialists who can position themselves at 40mph. Riders like Bourgoyne, Mendez, and Gomez are hot favorites in Tulsa, and you can expect to see the winning move with 1-2 corners to go on the final lap.

In the women's race, Kendall Ryan's sprint credentials make her the name to beat. But we’ve already seen some winning breakaways in the early part of the season. While the Blue Dome Crit traditionally ends in a sprint, could 2026 be the year that we see a breakaway upset the status quo?

Remember to keep an eye on the sprint primes throughout each race. Not only are points awarded for the ACC Overall Standings, but there are also the Sprint and Team Classifications to contend with.

The Big Picture: Storylines to Watch in the 2026 ACC Season

America vs The Rest of the World – Americans have a fantastic track record in the ACC and US crit racing, but they have also been upset by international squads many times in the past few years. The ACC draws riders in from around the world, including Germany and Colombia. In fact, Germany’s Maurice Ballerstedt took the ACC Men’s title in 2025, while Swiss rider Aline Seitz took the women’s title. Can the Americans reclaim the top spots on the podium in 2026?
Youth vs Veterans: There are riders as young as 15 and as old as 50 racing in the ACC. Would you rather have youthful exuberance or wisdom and experience? Few riders have both, and we often see a battle between younger and older riders in the race finales. There are some riders who have raced these courses seven times before. But then a 19-year-old flies up the inside to steal the victory. Keep an eye on the younger riders this year, especially those competing in the ACC Junior Series sponsored by Renaissance Financial.
The Gravel-Crit Crossover: Michael Garrison isn't the only rider in the ACC who doubles up across disciplines, a growing trend in American cycling where elite athletes refuse to specialize and instead compete across multiple race formats. Racing only crits can help maximize your sharpness, but throwing a 150-mile gravel race into your program could give you an endurance boost that crit-only racers are lacking. You can follow the multi-discipline athletes throughout the ACC season, and learn alongside them how the crossover helps or hurts their performances.
The Overall Title: At the end of the day, the American Crit Cup is decided over a full season of racing, not a single day. That makes consistency the most underrated quality in the field. The rider who is there every race, who squeezes into the Top 10 on a bad day, and who avoids crashes and tactical mistakes in the crucial final rounds — that is the rider who often ends up with the title. Every race will deliver a shake-up to the standings, and with the points tallied up after five rounds of racing, it could all come down to the final sprint at the Gateway Cup.