Criterium

A bell is usually rung to announce to the riders that whoever wins the next lap will be awarded the prime.

Success in road criteriums requires a mix of good technical skills — in particular, the ability to corner smoothly while holding the line on the road, as well as rapidly and sharply — and riding safely with a large group on a short circuit and exceptional "sprint" ability to attack other riders and repeatedly accelerate hard from corners.

Criteriums are relatively easy to organise, do not require a large amount of space, and are good for live spectators as they allow them to see the riders pass by many times.

The most notable of these are held in late July and early August, just after the Tour de France.

The races will also vary depending upon how many people from separate teams enter, which will impact whether it will be a "free-for-all" or a team-focused event.