Organizers of the USA CRITS series of elite criteriums have decided to move the majority of races to July, August, and September, with nine host cities for the 2021 edition.

Under the new calendar, the historic Athens Twilight Criterium, usually held in April, will be held on August 21, coinciding with the start of classes at the University of Georgia. Other major changes include the Birmingham Hammerfest in Alabama on August 14, the Winston-Salem Classic moved from May to September 24, and a second day of racing for international teams on September 25, in addition to the Winston-Salem Classic Road Race the following day Added.

The Spartanburg Criterium is tentatively scheduled for April 23, with a backup date of August 20 in case COVID-19 makes an earlier date impossible. The Sun City Criterium in El Paso, Texas, one of the cities hardest hit by the pandemic, has been moved to September 11.

USA Criterium's ambitious plans include a two-day race event in Utah on July 17-18, with host cities Salt Lake City and Holladay.

The ASWD Twilight Criterium on July 10 in Boise, Idaho will complement the Para Cycling Road National Championships and the Chrono Kristin Armstrong TT, with the Tulsa Tough remaining on its regular schedule and the USA CRITS event on June 11 Blue Dome course.

The Littleton Twilight Criterium will be held on July 31, with a second day of racing.

Organizers are planning free live streaming of the event for all viewers. Managing Director Scott Morris said, "We want to bring the D1 teams racing to the world, expand the promotion of our venues and partners, and contribute to the growth of this sport." This is a $250,000 investment made possible by our partners and represents nearly 80% of all road events streamed in the United States." We have been in discussions with several international media partners. This year will be a bridge to finalizing those agreements."

The shift in USA Critz races may signal a major rescheduling of the USA Cycling Pro road calendar. The Joe Martin Stage Race and Tour of the Gila are currently scheduled for April and early May on the UCI calendar, while the Tour of the Gila is targeted for September 29 to October 3.

"Needless to say, the fact that the host city expanded the event, that the team stuck together despite the lack of racing, and that our sponsors stood by us during this difficult time have been the driving force behind our efforts. It was not easy at any level, but the team is ready to race and the venue is looking forward to the show coming back," Morris added.

USA Crites continues to monitor the impact of the pandemic and "make changes for the health and safety of our athletes and community."

The 2019 USA CRITS winners are Tom Gibbons (then Automatic Racing) and Starla Teddergreen (then Hagens Berman Supermint) in the women's team standings, Colavita/Bialetti (now Colavita Hello Fresh) won the men's race, while Butcher Box Cycling won the men's race. Both teams will be part of the 22 D1 teams competing in the series.