About the 2025 Series…

Note: For information on upcoming races and possible weather cancellations, please follow us on Instagram, Threads or BlueSky: @CPcrits 

We are looking forward to welcoming you all back to Paxton’s beautiful park this spring for a short season of Tuesday-night races.  We hope to run races on ten evenings and to kick off with a round of the South East Region Youth Series – see ‘Calendar’ for all the dates.  As usual it’s a shorter series than in previous years owing to two music festivals being run back-to-back within the park.  The CP Crits races take place within the grounds of the 2020 World Cup-winning champion of south-London parks.

Organised by Dulwich Paragon CC – unstintingly supported by associate clubs, sponsors and a small army of volunteers – this unique race series is one of London’s most anticipated and best supported amateur cycle racing events.  All entry fees go towards providing exciting, efficient and safe racing for all competitors, from budding espoirs to Elite category riders – and any surplus is reinvested in racing activities within the South Eastern region. For more information on any aspect of the race series please click on the appropriate link below.

Key locations

Crystal Palace Park – Canada Gate Entrance (cycles and car parking): Anerley Hill, SE19 2BA

Crystal Palace Park – Fisherman’s Gate Entrance (cycles only): Crystal Palace Park Rd, SE26 6UW

Sign-on / DP Liaison: Google Pin What3Words: bunk.hope.rock

Event Overview - YOUTH ONLY

We are looking forward to welcoming you all back to Paxton's beautiful park this summer for a season of Tuesday-night races, kicking off on the 29th of April for Seniors and 2 weeks earlier on the 15th of April for Juniors (no senior racing on the 15th or 22nd of April).  For 2025 we will again be impacted by events in the park and are currently working with the park management group to maximise the race nights we can hold owing to Festivals booked into the park.

We will open with Race for YOUTHS only on the 15th of April then commence SENIORS racing from the 29th of April.

The races will take place within the grounds of the 2020 World Cup-winning champion of south-London parks. All entry fees go towards providing exciting, efficient and safe racing for all competitors, from budding espoirs to Elite category riders – and any surplus is reinvested in racing activities within the South Eastern region.

Organised by Dulwich Paragon CC – unstintingly supported by associate clubs, sponsors and a small army of volunteers – this unique race series is one of London's most anticipated and best supported amateur cycle racing events.

For more information on any aspect of the race series please click on the appropriate link below.

Key locations

Crystal Palace Park, Anerley Hill, London, SE19 2BA 

Are you ready … ?

Not sure if you are fit enough or have the bike-handling skills for Palace?  Whether an old hand or racing at the circuit for the first time, some crit-specific training can give you the edge over other riders.  Check out the sessions available at Herne Hill Velodrome, just a few miles from CP Crits: http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/crittraining/

Youth Races - YOUTHS CONTINUE TO RACE WITH FREE ENTRY in 2025

Any rider under 16 years old is categorised as a Youth rider under British Cycling regulations.  Youth categories are A, B, C, D and E which equate to under 16, under 14, under 12, under 10 and under 8.  Youth riders can ONLY enter on the evening of the race itself.  The desk where you enter is located a few metres from the start / finish line of the circuit, within the park.  Please see the circuit map where the location is marked in orange as "DP Liaison". Youth riders must present a British Cycling racing licence when entering (or an equivalent UCI-recognised licence if they are normally based outside the UK).

In exchange for your race licence (entry is free this year for youth categories) you will receive a pair of race numbers and a helmet cover in a colour that matches your category.  If your helmet is the same colour as the helmet cover, then you don't need to wear the cover – just hand it back to the signing-on staff showing them your helmet.  Pin your race numbers one either side, on your lower back.

Race times are as follows:

CDE categories 6:30pm

AB categories 6:45pm

Each category will start separately and get its own result.  Once you have finished your race, please hand back your helmet cover and race number in exchange for your licence.

Note to mums, dads and helpers: please do join in with judging the races – it's fun and you will get to know other mums and dads of youngsters who are friends with your own son or daughter.

Info for Riders

Info for Riders For 2025 we have reduced the pre-entry fee for Senior and Junior riders to £15 and maintained the entry-on-the-line (EOL) fee at £20*. To make the books balance Senior and Junior riders will be required to pay a £10 Affiliated Rider Fee, which buys them their race number to keep for the season. Entry will still be free for Youth riders

All Senior and Junior riders will be required to pay the Affiliate Rider Fee, including those entering on the line on the night. 

Affiliation Link: https://www.riderhq.com/groups/p/1a58vnom/f/crystal-palace-crits-2025-season-affiliated-rider-membership/join

For 2025 we will be extending the ability for Senior and Junior riders to pre-enter on RiderHQ until midnight on the Monday before the race. Each race will open for entry two weeks in advance. 

Follow @CPcrits on Instagram, and join our Announcements WhatsApp channel for information and race-day news https://chat.whatsapp.com/LxtQQZTaMvBLLrug2hQPl6