39th Mostly Annual Longmont Criterium

The 39th Longmont Criterium Bicycle Race, officially known as the Andrea Koenig/High Plains Bank Longmont State Championship Criterium returned to Longmont's Thompson Park neighborhood today.  "Crits", as they are called, have faced recent difficulties in finding places to race on the Front Range.  The long-running and well-known Twilight Criterium in Littleton ended their Saturday night race last year and yesterday's August 22 Niwot Criterium was cancelled just a few days before the event.  Both towns cited disruption to their communities as the reason.  As a result, crits often get relegated to drab and empty office parks on evenings and weekends.

Thankfully, Old Town Longmont continues to embrace this event and many riders say it is their favorite course in Colorado, among the trees, wide streets, and crowds.  You can see the neighbors having watch parties along the course and many locals bring out their lawn chairs to see the action.

After a 25 minute lightning and rain delay, the women's top riders got underway:

 

The winner in a sprint:

 Start of top Men's race:

Surprise visit by UK Global Cycling Network personality, Daniel Lloyd on the left, chatting with race announcer Dave Towle on the right:

 

That's 18-year old Gregory DeBenedetti wearing the Stars and Stripes, as this year's USA Junior Men's Criterium Champion from June in Wheeling, West Virginia.  Unfortunately, he appeared to have been in a crash today and could not finish.  

Riders are doing a constant ~30 mph on this course:

Hope this event continues to return to Longmont.