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Free Admission & Healthy Fun at the Electric City Classic
Start making plans for race weekend in the Electric City!
Can you pedal 20 miles in 40 minutes, or achieve speeds over 30 miles per hour on a bicycle? Criterium racers can — and watching them is truly an amazing experience.
You’ll have a chance to see the pros in action as cyclists from around the world compete in the Electric City Classic in Scranton. A project of Scranton Tomorrow, presented by Geisinger, the event features the Electric City Classic Criterium on Saturday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Scranton. The race is followed by the Electric City Classic Hill Climb on Sunday, August 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Olive Street in the Hill section of Scranton.
“We are so happy to once again host the Electric City Classic,” said Liz Baldi, project coordinator, Scranton Tomorrow. “Scranton hasn’t seen the excitement of the criterium since 2019. Expect this thrilling race through the streets of downtown Scranton to be absolutely electrifying.” The 2019 event was so popular among racers that this year’s criterium has been designated as the Pennsylvania State Criterium Championship.
A criterium, or crit, is a race on a short-circuit course. Professional and amateur cyclists complete multiple laps at speeds up to 45-miles per hour. And they’re just inches away from each other the whole time. Fans cheer along the sidelines as riders whisk past them every 90 seconds. To give you some perspective, Bicycling.com describes it this way: “Instead of slogging up remote mountains, crits speed through downtown streets like getaway cars …” Well said!
Here’s How You Can Join the Fun:
In addition to watching Saturday’s pro and amateur races, you can participate in handcycle races. There’s a group ride on the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, organized by Veloce Scranton and led by members of the DiscoverNEPA Cycling Club. There will also be races for novices and experienced riders holding USA Cycling licenses. Scranton Tomorrow will present a children’s bicycle race and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce will present Big Wheel Wars, a corporate tricycle race.
Then, on Sunday, get ready to work your quads. Or just watch others tackle the Electric City Hill Climb, a short, vertical cycling sprint up Scranton’s infamous Olive Street. Not only is this hill extremely steep, exposed brick at the top is an added bonus for anyone who really likes a challenge.
Everyone is invited to ride, run and cheer in these events:
No Spandex Race: People of all ages and experience levels take one sprint to the top of the hill riding any type of bicycle.
U5-in-Tow: Are your children under age 5? Get ready to race up Olive Street with them in a trailer, handlebar seat, or other safe transportation.
Wheelbarrow Race: Limited to the top of the hill (the area where the brick is exposed), teams race using wheelbarrows as their mode of transportation.
Electric City Classic 1-mile Dash presented by Scranton Running Company: Runners start the day off right with this short, but challenging, race on foot.
Get on it!
Ready to register? Check out the full schedule of events and sign up to join in the fun here. For cool video footage and the latest updates on race weekend, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
And, finally, thank you!
The Electric City Classic is made possible through the generous support of community sponsors, including DiscoverNEPA. Thank you for making this year’s event a success!
