The Athens Twilight Criterium is an annual professional cycling event for racers, fans, families, and citizens of Athens, Georgia. This year marks the 30th anniversary of this event, and to celebrate, this year's Twiilght will be bigger and better. For the second year in a row, the University of Georgia School of Music will be hosting the Jazz Festival in Downtown Athens, and the Computrainer Grid Qualifiers presented by Georgia Cycle Sport will let you get up-close-and-personal with your favorite professional rider as they battle it out Friday night for coveted starting places in America's best criterium.
Founded in 1980 by Gene Dixon, the Athens Twilight Criterium was the first nighttime race in the United States in over 60 years. What began as one race with 40 competitors has since grown to offer eight separate race classes and 150 cyclists competing in the main event, the men's criterium, a 60-km race around downtown Athens.
Twilight's location takes place in the thriving entertainment district of downtown Athens, consistently drawing over 30,000 spectators and some of cyling's hottest stars to the streets of the Classic City. Second only to football games, Twilight is the largest event in Athens. Twilight weekend is the highest income-producing weekend of the year for downtown retailers. Over one million people have viewed the Athens Twilight over its 29-year history.
The Twilight weekend has become an annual springtime tradition in Athens, as well as attracting spectators and participants from around the world. Professional athletes and spectators comment that there is no other event anywhere in the world as diverse and all encompassing as the Athens Twilight.
Information courtesy of Athens Twilight