We are looking forward to welcoming you all back to Paxton’s beautiful park this summer for a short season of Tuesday-night races, kicking off late June.  For 2021 the Government’s un-locking timetable prevents us from starting any sooner and even the dates we have planned are subject to change according to guidance that will be issued over the coming months.

If we can go ahead, the races will take place within the grounds of the 2020 World Cup-winning champion of south-London parks. All entry fees go towards providing exciting, efficient and safe racing for all competitors, from budding espoirs to Elite category riders – and any surplus is reinvested in racing activities within the South Eastern region.

Organised by Dulwich Paragon CC – unstintingly supported by associate clubs, sponsors and a small army of volunteers – this unique race series is one of London’s most anticipated and best supported amateur cycle racing events.

For more information on any aspect of the race series please click on the appropriate link below.

Key locations

Crystal Palace Park, Anerley Hill, London, SE19 2BA

Cadence, 2a Anerley Hill, London SE19 2AA (senior/junior sign-on, bag-drop, toilets, shop and cafe)

Are you ready … ?

Not sure if you are fit enough or have the bike-handling skills for Palace?  Whether an old hand or racing at the circuit for the first time, some crit-specific training can give you the edge over other riders.  Check out the sessions available on Thursday nights at Herne Hill Velodrome, just a few miles from CP Crits: http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/crittraining/

Youth Races

Any rider under 16 years old is categorised as a Youth rider under British Cycling regs.  Youth categories are A, B, C, D and E which equate to under 16, under 14, under 12, under 10 and under 8.  Youth riders can ONLY enter on the evening of the race itself.  The desk where you enter is located a few metres from the start / finish line of the circuit, within the park.  Please see the circuit map where the location is marked in orange as “DP Liaison”. Youth riders must present a British Cycling racing licence when entering (or an equivalent UCI-recognised licence if they are normally based outside the UK).

In exchange for your race licence (entry is free this year for youth categories) you will receive a pair of race numbers and a helmet cover in a colour that matches your category.  If your helmet is the same colour as the helmet cover, then you don’t need to wear the cover – just hand it back to the signing-on staff showing them your helmet.  Pin your race numbers one either side, on your lower back.

Race times are as follows:

CDE categories 6:30pm

AB categories 6:45pm

Each category will start separately and get its own result.  Once you have finished your race, please hand back your helmet cover and race number in exchange for your licence.

Note to mums, dads and helpers: please do join in with judging the races – it’s fun and you will get to know other mums and dads of youngsters who are friends with your own son or daughter.

Senior & Junior Races

Anyone over 16 but under 18 is classified as a Junior rider and anyone over 18 is a Senior.  Additionally you will have a category of Elite, 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th.  The Crystal Palace Crits races are NOT open to 4th category riders.

If you are a 1^st claim member of a supporting club (see SUPPORT button) then you can enter in advance on RiderHQ for £15 plus transaction fee; entries open a fortnight before each race.  If you miss entering in advance or are not in a supporting club then you can still enter on the evening by showing up at Cadence in good time (see the circuit map where the location of Cadence is marked in blue).  If you have signed up but can no longer attend, follow the steps on RiderHQ to request a refund well in advance.  If a race is cancelled (eg in case of rain), you will be refunded via RiderHQ or offered a move to another race).  Here is the timetable for Senior / Junior races:

Signing-on desk opens                  5:30pm

Signing-on desk closes                   6:55pm sharp

When the desk closes, at 6:55pm sharp, spaces for any pre-entered riders who have not shown up are released to riders wanting to enter on the evening.  This means that if you are pre-entered and turn up after 6:55pm you are in danger of losing your place to someone else – with no refund!

E12 cat men’s race begins:           7:15pm

3^rd cat men’s race begins:             30s after E12 (approx.)

E123 women’s race begins:         1 minute after E12 (approx.)

The races are run as three separate races and a shortcut may be used to keep them separate.  Please pay attention to officials’ directions on whether to take the shortcut on any particular lap – this is indicated by orange flags and a loud whistle.  Using the shortcut may not always be feasible: if one race does catch another, the slower group (the one having been caught) must give way to the faster (catching) group.  The caught group is effectively neutralised until the faster group is 150 metres clear of it (roughly the distance from start/finish to hairpin).

Race distances will vary from just over 20 laps up to 30 laps according to the amount of light available. Race direction depends principally on wind direction but is at the discretion of the chief commissaire and organiser on the night.  A NE wind usually leads to the race running clockwise; a SW wind to the race running anti-clockwise.

The finish of the races will be staggered as follows:

3rd cat: bell at 6 laps to go / finish at 5 laps to go

Women: bell at 4 laps to go / finish at 3 laps to go

Elite-1st-2nd cat: bell at 1 lap to go / finish at 0 laps to go

Sign-off (return of race numbers, retrieval of your race licence, collection of primes and prizes) is at Cadence for senior/junior riders, same place as where you sign on.

Info for Riders

Senior Riders must have previous racing experience.

Mens Racing is Race 1: E/1/2 and Race 2: Cat 3 only.

NB: Cat 4s are not permitted to enter

Womens Racing is E/1/2/3 Only

NB: Cat 4s are not permitted to enter.

The course rider restriction is limnited to 80 in line with the BC Risk Assessment for 2017.

There are no refunds for withdrawn pre-entries. You can substitute another rider for a £5 feeup until 4 days prior to the race date.

Follow @CPCRITS on Twitter for the most up to date information and Race Day news.

Series Homepage: http://www.dulwichparagon.com/index.php/cpcrits/cpcrits-race-info/