USA Cycling announced today that it is working with race directors and cycling teams affiliated with the National Cycling Team Association to create a new professional criterium series for 2022. The new series will feature six inaugural events with 13 days of racing, providing support and $100,000 in total prize money, split equally between men and women.

Two of the races, the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough in Oklahoma and the ASWD Twilight Criterium in Idaho, were part of the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour. Along with the Salt Lake Criterium and the Littleton Criterium, these four founding events were part of the USA Crit Series.

"Historically, cycling teams and athletes have had to accept event proposals with limited or no say. We are excited that USA Cycling and the event directors are making an effort to work with NACT to consider the unified voice of teams and riders. Putting teams and athletes first is a step in the right direction for the sport as a whole," said Lauren Dodge, interim president of the National Association of Cycling Teams.

According to a press release, a selection committee of interested parties is currently assessing applications from other top events to be added to the series calendar, and the final list for the criterium will be announced in January. Other events that have been part of the Pro Road Tour and events owned by L39LION of Los Angeles are also being considered.

"Criteriums are a mainstream part of competitive road cycling in the United States and have proven popular with the public and sponsors. This new collaboration between meet organizers, USA Cycling, and athletes provides an opportunity to elevate the status of criterium racing and bring additional value to stakeholders," said Malcolm McCollum, executive director of the St. Francis Tulsa Tough.

The Tulsa race covers three days of racing, while the Gateway Cup in St. Louis, Missouri, offers four days of racing. Races in Utah and Indiana are two-day events, while Idaho and Colorado are stand-alone events. So far, all of the events named in the series have committed to equal prize money for professional men and women, and the series prize money will be added to the prize money of the individual events.

"Supporting America's top criterium events is a priority for USA Cycling. Being able to highlight races and riders as part of the Professional Criterium Series directly benefits our mission to promote the sport of cycling."

He said USA Cycling will announce the name of the series next month, along with more details, once the full lineup of races is announced.