SA Nationals Criterium Championships
Eden Cycling
2026 SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIPS
30 October – 1 November 2026 | George, Western Cape
South Africa’s fastest road racing is coming to George.
The City of George will welcome some of the country’s best cyclists for the 2026 South African National Criterium Championships, taking place on 30 October and 1 November 2026.
Hosted by Eden Cycling, with Crank To Crown Events as the Local Organising Committee, the Championships will bring national-level criterium racing to the Garden Route for a weekend of speed, tactics, community and championship racing.
THE RACE
Criterium racing is fast, tactical and spectator-friendly.
Riders race multiple laps of a short road circuit, creating constant action as the peloton passes spectators repeatedly. Positioning, cornering, attacks, teamwork and sprinting all play a role as riders battle for the right to wear the South African National Champion’s jersey.
The 2026 Championships will be based at Cornerstone Lifestyle Centre in Blanco, George, which will become the central Race Village for the weekend.
The championship circuit takes riders from Cornerstone along the R404 towards Blanco and back, providing a compact racing environment where spectators can experience the speed and intensity of national-level road cycling up close.
MORE THAN A RACE
The weekend has been designed to bring together national championship racing, youth cycling and the broader cycling community.
Alongside the official National Championship racing, the programme includes a Community Outride, the C2C Youth Criterium Championships, Race Village activities, the official opening and an opportunity on Sunday morning to experience the 2027 SA National Road Championship route.
C2C YOUTH CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIPS
One of the highlights of Saturday’s programme will be the C2C Youth Criterium Championships, giving the next generation of cyclists their own opportunity to race during a South African National Championship weekend.
The Youth Criterium is aimed at creating a pathway for young riders into competitive road cycling while giving them the excitement and experience of criterium racing in a major event environment.
Young riders will take to the course before the senior championship action, with families and spectators able to cheer them on from the Race Village at Cornerstone Lifestyle Centre.
The Youth Criterium Championships are a separate C2C youth event and are not South African National Championship categories.
It is an opportunity for young riders to experience the atmosphere, excitement and professionalism surrounding a National Championship while developing their racing skills and confidence.
From the youth racing to the country’s Elite riders, the weekend represents the full pathway of cycling – giving young riders the opportunity to see where the sport can take them.
WEEKEND PROGRAMME
FRIDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2026
Registration, Community Outride & Technical Day
12:00 – 16:00
Registration – Veterans, Masters & C2C Youth riders
15:00 – 16:00
Community Outride
The Nationals weekend starts by bringing the cycling community together.
The Community Outride will welcome cyclists, youth riders, invited guests and members of the broader cycling community for a social ride ahead of the weekend’s racing.
The activation will celebrate cycling, road safety, active mobility and the continued growth of cycling in the Garden Route.
Technical Day
Officials’ preparations, course inspections and final technical arrangements will also take place ahead of racing.
SATURDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2026
Veterans, Masters & C2C Youth Criterium Championships
Saturday sees the first National Championship racing take to the streets, with the Veterans and Masters categories competing for their respective South African titles.
The next generation then gets its opportunity to race with the C2C Youth Criterium Championships.
Young riders will take to the criterium course and experience the excitement of racing during the Nationals weekend, with their own championship titles up for grabs.
14:00 – 17:00
Registration – Junior, U23 & Elite riders
17:30 – 19:00
Official Opening of the SA National Criterium Championships
The official opening will bring together riders, officials, government representatives, sponsors, partners and the cycling community as George officially welcomes the National Championships.
Prize Giving – Day 1
National Championship medals and jerseys will be awarded to the relevant Veterans and Masters categories, together with the prize giving for the C2C Youth Criterium Championships.
SUNDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2026
Road Race Recce & Championship Finale
07:00 – 09:00
2027 SA National Road Race Route Recce
The morning starts with an opportunity to experience the route that will form part of the 2027 South African National Road Championships in George.
The 2027 Road, Individual Time Trial and Para Cycling National Championships will return to George from 3–7 February 2027.
Junior • U23 • Elite National Championship Racing
Attention then turns back to Cornerstone for the headline racing of the weekend.
South Africa’s Junior, Under-23 and Elite riders will battle it out on the criterium circuit for national honours and the coveted National Champion’s jersey.
Expect aggressive racing, breakaways, tactical battles, high-speed cornering and explosive finishes as some of the country’s strongest road cyclists fight for the title of South African Criterium Champion.
Prize Giving & Official Closing
The weekend concludes with the final National Championship prize giving and official closing ceremony.
RACE VILLAGE – CORNERSTONE LIFESTYLE CENTRE
- Cornerstone Lifestyle Centre will serve as the heart of the Championships throughout the weekend.
- The Race Village will create a space where riders, teams, families, supporters, sponsors and spectators can come together while enjoying the National Championship atmosphere.
- With riders repeatedly returning past the central race area during the criterium, spectators will be close to the action throughout the racing.
WHO CAN ENTER?
The SA National Criterium Championships cater for the applicable Veteran, Masters, Junior, U23 and Elite categories in accordance with Cycling South Africa regulations.
Applicable Cycling South Africa licensing, membership and eligibility requirements will apply to riders competing for National Championship titles.
Youth riders will compete separately in the C2C Youth Criterium Championships on Saturday, 31 October. No CSA License needed to race in the Youth Criterium.
GEORGE – THE ROAD TO NATIONALS
The 2026 SA National Criterium Championships are about more than two days of racing.
They mark the beginning of a journey that will see George host three South African National Championship events:
With the Garden Route as its backdrop, George is preparing to welcome riders, teams, families and supporters from across South Africa and showcase the region as an exciting destination for cycling and major sporting events.
Community Outride | C2C Youth Criterium Championships | Veterans | Masters | Juniors | U23 | Elite
From the next generation to South Africa’s best.
Fast. Tactical. Explosive. National.
THE ROAD TO NATIONALS STARTS IN GEORGE.