2026 Chico Airport Criterium
in Memory of RJ Laffins
Sponsored by Chico Cycling Team and Performance Bicycle
Volunteer Sign upOur volunteers are an essential part in our weekly crit races. If you have a free Tuesday evening, we would love your help! VOLUNTEERS: We need 6 course marshals and registration help every Tuesday. Are you coming to watch the race?
Want to help? VOLUNTEERS SIGN IN HERE Current Airport Criterium Standings
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Beginners are welcome!
Don't be shy. Come out and meet us - we'll even give you some pointers/ lessons. Everyone is new at some point! This year- that could be YOU! Did we mention - it's completely FREE! 
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CHICO AIRPORT CRITERIUM INFO
Chico Cycling Team is proud to announce year 11 of the official, fully permitted Tuesday Night Criterium Series! The series of "training races" will start on Tuesday, May 5 with a training day only/ test races and then run every Tuesday through (including) August 11. August 18 &25 are reserved as back-up race days incase weather cancels events earlier in the summer. These events are FREE and open to anyone who wants to race, learn to race and/or just improve their fitness and have fun. Our permit from the City of Chico authorizes road closure to cars but, you should be aware that cars will be allowed to enter and exit as necessary, so use good judgment and ride safely!!!
Signing a waiver is mandatory for all racers and volunteers!
There will be 1 day of training (May 5) 14 weeks of race-fun with 2 reserve weeks (incase weather forces cancellations.)
Where: the old ‘short course” – Start/finish on Convair; .6mile 4-corner course: Convair-Marauder-Fairchild-Fortress-Convair.
244-238 Convair Ave., Chico, CA 95973
When: Every Tuesday from May 5 through August 11 (or through August 25 to make up any cancelled events due to weather earlier in the summer)
Registration: Opens at 5:45PM
Races: Start at 6:15
Cost: Nada. Zilch. It's always free to participate/ view -- come on out!
Categories and Schedule: B’s, Women, and Masters 50+ will start at 6:15pm for approximately 30 minutes. These categories will race together but will be picked separately. Kids will race after the first races are completed, at around 6:40pm, for approximately 10-15 minutes (1-3 laps).
Veteran racers in classes 1,2,3 and 'A' will race for 40 minutes after the kids' race, roughly at 7pm.
Race Numbers: You must wear a number to race, and you’ll be issued your number at your 1st race (free). You’ll be responsible to bring/use this number for EVERY race. If you lose your number, then it will cost you $5 to replace it. Numbers are to be pinned on your left side. Pins will be provided. In the event the race director changes course direction, racing counter-clockwise, race numbers must be on the right side.
Seat mounted race numbers & holders may be for sale at the event.
Race Details*:
On the first week of the event, May 5th, Chico Cycling Team will provide a clinic on safety & how to race and how to volunteer.
If time allows following the clinic, we will have short races only this week.
On future weeks:
5:45 Warm-up and Instruction by veteran racers.
6:15 B’s, Masters, Women Race– 30 minutes
6:50 Kids race lasting 2 or 3 laps, between 5 and 15 minutes
About 7 pm Cat 1,2,3’s & A’s Race – 40 minutes
*All times (length of race) are approximate and dependent on circumstances/weather and the Official’s judgment!
Races will proceed if weather and air quality permit. If race time heat index ("feels like" temperature) is likely to exceed 102°F and/or AQI exceeds 100, the race director has the authority to cancel the race. The threshold for cancelling kids' races is lower. All efforts will be made to notify racers via email or social media by 3:00PM PST as to the status of the day's race. It is our goal to provide a safe environment for all racers, volunteers and spectators.
In the event of a race cancellation, we have 2 additional weeks available for make-up days - August 18th & 25
Points for the Criterium Series: At each race, points will be awarded for each category as follows:
1st - 25 pts , 2nd - 20, 3rd -16, 4th -14, 5th - 12, 6th - 10, 7th - 9, 8th - 8, 9th - 7, 10th - 6, 11th - 5, 12th - 4, 13th - 3, 14th - 2, 15th - 1.
Additionally, ‘Prime’ points will be awarded as follows: 5 pts. 1st place, 3 pts. 2nd place, and 1pt 3rd place.
Racers who volunteer to work at the crit you will receive 5 points.
Racers who are vying for one of the top three spots in the series are required to volunteer two times throughout the season. Volunteer points cannot be earned on the same night as participating in a race. Points will not be awarded for race mentoring - this is a chance to inspire and guide up and coming racers.
Remember, the key to ‘placing’ well in a series like this is CONSISTENCY! Show up often and you may be surprised at how well you’ll do!
Prizes: We hope to have continued support of our great local shops, Performance Bicycle, Campus Bicycles, Greenline Cycles, and NorthRim Adventure Sports. These generous folks have donated prizes for 1 – 3 place overall series winners in the past. Remember to support your local bike shops!!!
VOLUNTEERS: This race series won’t work without volunteers. We need seven volunteers every Tuesday. Corner volunteers must be age 18 or older. If you are under 18, we would still love to have you volunteer for race setup and tear-down only.
WAIVER: All participants and volunteers must have a signed waiver on file at the race check-in table. These will be available at the registration table, but if you want to print and bring it yourself, you can find it below. IF YOU ARE A MINOR, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PARENT SIGN YOUR WAIVER. Click the following link to download the waiver: 2025_cct_crit_waiver_and_release_of_liability-2.docx After waiver is submitted, participants and volunteers must sign-in each week to acknowledge the release of liability waiver.
Thank you in advance. Link to volunteer page: airportcrit.ivolunteer.com/_2025
Signing a waiver is mandatory for all racers and volunteers!
There will be 1 day of training (May 5) 14 weeks of race-fun with 2 reserve weeks (incase weather forces cancellations.)
Where: the old ‘short course” – Start/finish on Convair; .6mile 4-corner course: Convair-Marauder-Fairchild-Fortress-Convair.
244-238 Convair Ave., Chico, CA 95973
When: Every Tuesday from May 5 through August 11 (or through August 25 to make up any cancelled events due to weather earlier in the summer)
Registration: Opens at 5:45PM
Races: Start at 6:15
Cost: Nada. Zilch. It's always free to participate/ view -- come on out!
Categories and Schedule: B’s, Women, and Masters 50+ will start at 6:15pm for approximately 30 minutes. These categories will race together but will be picked separately. Kids will race after the first races are completed, at around 6:40pm, for approximately 10-15 minutes (1-3 laps).
Veteran racers in classes 1,2,3 and 'A' will race for 40 minutes after the kids' race, roughly at 7pm.
Race Numbers: You must wear a number to race, and you’ll be issued your number at your 1st race (free). You’ll be responsible to bring/use this number for EVERY race. If you lose your number, then it will cost you $5 to replace it. Numbers are to be pinned on your left side. Pins will be provided. In the event the race director changes course direction, racing counter-clockwise, race numbers must be on the right side.
Seat mounted race numbers & holders may be for sale at the event.
Race Details*:
On the first week of the event, May 5th, Chico Cycling Team will provide a clinic on safety & how to race and how to volunteer.
If time allows following the clinic, we will have short races only this week.
On future weeks:
5:45 Warm-up and Instruction by veteran racers.
6:15 B’s, Masters, Women Race– 30 minutes
6:50 Kids race lasting 2 or 3 laps, between 5 and 15 minutes
About 7 pm Cat 1,2,3’s & A’s Race – 40 minutes
*All times (length of race) are approximate and dependent on circumstances/weather and the Official’s judgment!
Races will proceed if weather and air quality permit. If race time heat index ("feels like" temperature) is likely to exceed 102°F and/or AQI exceeds 100, the race director has the authority to cancel the race. The threshold for cancelling kids' races is lower. All efforts will be made to notify racers via email or social media by 3:00PM PST as to the status of the day's race. It is our goal to provide a safe environment for all racers, volunteers and spectators.
In the event of a race cancellation, we have 2 additional weeks available for make-up days - August 18th & 25
Points for the Criterium Series: At each race, points will be awarded for each category as follows:
1st - 25 pts , 2nd - 20, 3rd -16, 4th -14, 5th - 12, 6th - 10, 7th - 9, 8th - 8, 9th - 7, 10th - 6, 11th - 5, 12th - 4, 13th - 3, 14th - 2, 15th - 1.
Additionally, ‘Prime’ points will be awarded as follows: 5 pts. 1st place, 3 pts. 2nd place, and 1pt 3rd place.
Racers who volunteer to work at the crit you will receive 5 points.
Racers who are vying for one of the top three spots in the series are required to volunteer two times throughout the season. Volunteer points cannot be earned on the same night as participating in a race. Points will not be awarded for race mentoring - this is a chance to inspire and guide up and coming racers.
Remember, the key to ‘placing’ well in a series like this is CONSISTENCY! Show up often and you may be surprised at how well you’ll do!
Prizes: We hope to have continued support of our great local shops, Performance Bicycle, Campus Bicycles, Greenline Cycles, and NorthRim Adventure Sports. These generous folks have donated prizes for 1 – 3 place overall series winners in the past. Remember to support your local bike shops!!!
VOLUNTEERS: This race series won’t work without volunteers. We need seven volunteers every Tuesday. Corner volunteers must be age 18 or older. If you are under 18, we would still love to have you volunteer for race setup and tear-down only.
WAIVER: All participants and volunteers must have a signed waiver on file at the race check-in table. These will be available at the registration table, but if you want to print and bring it yourself, you can find it below. IF YOU ARE A MINOR, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PARENT SIGN YOUR WAIVER. Click the following link to download the waiver: 2025_cct_crit_waiver_and_release_of_liability-2.docx After waiver is submitted, participants and volunteers must sign-in each week to acknowledge the release of liability waiver.
Thank you in advance. Link to volunteer page: airportcrit.ivolunteer.com/_2025
SPECIAL THANKS:
Our prize sponsors - Performance Bicycle, North Rim Adventure Sports, Greenline Cycles, Campus Bicycles and Jakroo for the winners' jerseys.
Chico Corsa Cycling Club for the amazing BBQ.
Shout out to all of the Chico Cycling Team sponsors - Performance Bicycle, Laffins Team, Optimist Prime Care, The Handlebar, Sugar Pine Publishing and Holt Construction.
Race Photos courtesy of Steve Twist, Avalon Photo
Our prize sponsors - Performance Bicycle, North Rim Adventure Sports, Greenline Cycles, Campus Bicycles and Jakroo for the winners' jerseys.
Chico Corsa Cycling Club for the amazing BBQ.
Shout out to all of the Chico Cycling Team sponsors - Performance Bicycle, Laffins Team, Optimist Prime Care, The Handlebar, Sugar Pine Publishing and Holt Construction.
Race Photos courtesy of Steve Twist, Avalon Photo
