USA CRITS Set for Dramatic Championship Finale This Weekend

The 2026 USA CRITS series concludes this weekend with a pair of races that will decide the overall winners of the closely fought eight-race contest.

We have a double header in store from Winston-Salem, North Carolina: the Streets of Fire Criterium on Friday, May 22 and the WSCC Gears & Guitars Criterium on Saturday, May 23, which serves as the 2026 USA CRITS Finals.

Velo is streaming both races live on the home page this weekend, with racing Friday kicking off at 7:10 p.m. EDT for the women, followed by the men at 9:15 p.m. EDT. Saturday racing starts at 5:20 p.m. for the women with the men following at 9:20 EDT

Here’s what you need to know before the racing kicks off Friday evening.

Tight battle for the overall series lead

Through the first six races, Leonel Rodriguez (MC Cycling Team) leads the men’s overall standings with 1,400 points total. He is trailed by a tight battle for the podium with Marcos Mendez (Foundation Cycling New York) at 1,328 points followed by Preston Eye (Clif Family Drifters Cycling) and Bryan Gomez (Foundation) tied just one point back at 1,327.

In the women’s field, Liza Ray (Kingdom Elite Racing) leads the overall standings with 1,400 points, ahead of teammate Elizabeth Harden who sits at 1,176 points. Elizabeth Castaño (One Hart Racing – Nashville Local Cycling) surged onto the podium after winning the last race at Suwanee, and now sits at 1,129 points, just two points ahead of Rebecca Lang (Team Winston-Salem – FLOW) entering the finale.

Where the team competition stands

The D1 Team Competition battle has intensified over the last two rounds of racing. Foundation Cycling New York reinforced its dominance in Spartanburg with Jordan Parra and Bryan Gomez going one-two to secure a healthy share of points and extend the squad’s lead. The following race, however, Lucas Bourgoyne delivered a breakthrough win for Team Cadence Cyclery p/b Waldo Racing, moving the team into the team battle heading into the championship weekend.

Cadence now sits second overall with 3,998 points, led by Cade Bickmore and Bourgoyne inside the overall top 10. Foundation continues to control the competition with Mendez, Gomez, Parra, and Lucas Gaday all ranked among the series leaders to shore up its overall lead at 5,060 points.

Kingdom Elite Racing leads the women’s D1 Team Competition with 4,561 points, ahead of One Hart Racing and United Cycling Women. With Castaño’s late-season form on the ride and Lang channeling the advantage of racing on home roads, the final weekend promises more lively racing.

Points structure will keep the racing lively this weekend

Thanks to a points structure that awards riders for far more than overall finishing place, the championship battle race will remain tightly fought this weekend with scoring opportunities on every lap.

In addition to final placing points, riders receive 50 start points, sprint points at three mid-race moments, and one point per lap in the lead.