In 2010, amateur criterium cyclists, Jennifer Cvar and Wayde Klein, envisioned the Indy Criterium, an epic festival featuring bicycle racing on Monument Circle showcasing bicycling, health and fitness, youth, community, and transportation connectivity.

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The Indy Criterium harkens back to Indianapolis’ bicycle racing history which predates the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event draws over 15,000 attendees to downtown, many from surrounding states, on the second Saturday in July. Hundreds of families and children participate in health and wellness and bicycle safety activities at the festival through the Family Ride, kids’ bicycle races and interactive Kids’ Zone.

Over 500 volunteers, annually, give of their time, talent and treasures to bring this cultural celebration of bicycling and health and fitness to Indianapolis each year. The festival has generated over $170,000 in proceeds donated to local not-for-profits which support youth development programs, health and wellness, and workforce development.

 

In 2019, the Mass Ave Criterium, founded by NUVO’s Kevin McKinney, merged with the Indy Criterium Bicycle Festival weekend.

 

Also in 2019, the inaugural Marshall “Major” Taylor Community Bike Ride, drew hundreds of bicycle riders of varying abilities to Monument Circle and to the Major Taylor Velodrome in honor of an Indianapolis sports legend and international sports and cultural icon.

 

Mayors Gregory Ballard and Joe Hogsett have enthusiastically engaged in the event as racers in the Mayor’s Celebrity Bicycle Race highlighting our city’s anchor institutions, businesses, and public safety organizations.

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2021 will be a special year as we launch Momentum Indy, a 2-day bicycling festival in the heart of Indianapolis, featuring the Mass Ave Crit and the Indy Crit!

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Momentum Indy is truly a community celebration of bicycling and human powered movement!  

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For additional historical perspective, see this article The Indy Criterium and how it became a cause for kids (July 22, 2016).

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