Spartanburg and Athens return to anchor Speed Week criterium series

Skylar Schneider (L39ION of Los Angeles) wins the 2021 Athens Twilight Criterium
Skylar Schneider (L39ION of Los Angeles) wins the 2021 Athens Twilight Criterium (Image credit: Kit Karzen & Laura Fletcher)

Speed Week returns for seven criterium races over the next 10 days across the southern US, combining for $80,000 in total prize money for individual races, divided equally for pro men and pro women. There is also a $15,000 bonus purse to be shared by overall Speed Week winners, awarded to the top five men and top five women as well as top five men’s and women’s teams. 

The payouts are on par with the national series that began at Sunny King Criterium, the American Criterium Cup, but in a more condenses calendar and geographic region. Organisers describe the races as ‘a sweet southern spin on the traditional tailgate’, as spectators who usually fill stadiums for college football in the fall are expected to turn out in full force in these smaller southern towns for the closed-circuit races.

Jackie Tyson
North American Production editor

Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. She has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast). Her favorite road and gravel rides are around horse farms in north Georgia (USA) and around lavender fields in Provence (France), and some mtb rides in Park City, Utah (USA).

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