The MVP Health Care Rochester Twilight Criterium returns to downtown Rochester on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
In the twilight hours, under the downtown Rochester city lights, world-class bicycle racers hit top speeds through an urban course. Described as NASCAR on two-wheels, the MVP Health Care Rochester Twilight Criterium features relentlessly high-paced racing on a short closed loop course that gives spectators plenty of access. This USA Cycling sanctioned race is a 9-corner course and is only one of eleven Pro Road Tour criteriums in the United States.
There is no other sporting event quite like the MVP Health Care Rochester Twilight Criterium. To get you ready and excited to attend this year's crit, here are six things to see at the 2022 Rochester Twilight Criterium.
1. Free Admission
There is no admission to attend this event. Bring your friends and family to spend a beautiful spring evening in Downtown Rochester.
2. The World’s Top Cyclists
The Rochester Twilight Criterium gives spectators a front-row seat to cycling teams from all over the world. Feel the rush as these elite athletes (literally) zoom past the crowd at super-fast speeds.
3. Local Food and Craft Beer
You can watch the racers zip around the course with a cold local brew in hand in the Rohrbach Beer Garden that makes up the entire infield of the course. The beer garden opens at 4 p.m. on the day of the festival along with a Food Truck Rodeo: a round up of some of the best food trucks Rochester has to offer.
4. Big Wheel Races
Why should grown-ups have all the fun? Kids can race too on their very own course in the Big Wheel races. New this year, the Big Wheel Kids Race is in collaboration with the Strong National Museum of Play. A smaller, modified course will be set up at the finish line on the Broad St. Bridge for kids to ride and race on big wheel bikes (kids bikes, and helmets will be available for use, free of charge).
5. The Rochester Mile
Additional events throughout the day include the third annual Rochester Mile, which will feature one-mile races for elite and amateur female and male runners. The elite runners will hit the streets with the hopes of breaking course records and capitalizing on the equal $5,000 purses.
This year, the Rochester Mile is also the USA Track and Field (USATF) National Championship race! Masters men and women will compete in separate heats with awards to the top male and female finishers in each age group, age-group teams, overall race winners, and the top age-graded athletes. This will be the inaugural year hosting the championships with master’s course records up for grabs.
The MVP Health Care Rochester Twilight Criterium returns to downtown Rochester on Saturday, May 21. The fun kicks off at 2:30 p.m., and continues through the evening.
See the full schedule of events.
