Wilmington University leads the pack as the new title sponsor of Benchmark Classic’s Pro Women’s Cycling Criterium.

Love women’s sports? Love local events that bring the community together? So does WilmU! The University is proud to be the new title sponsor of the 2019 Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic’s Pro Women’s Criterium. This exciting race is the penultimate cycling event in the Benchmark Classic, which attracts cyclists from around the country, and takes place on Saturday, August 10, along the streets of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

The esteemed event will bring top female riders together once again in one of the most popular and challenging courses on the USA CRITS Championship calendar. Adding to its allure is prize parity with the Iron Hill Pro Men’s Race, making it more attractive for women cyclists who are eager to compete.

A criterium, or crit, is a bike race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit, with the length of each lap ranging from about 800 to 10,000 meters. The WilmU Pro Women’s Criterium is a 40K race over a 0.6-mile course encompassing eight city blocks in historic downtown West Chester. The course features four 90-degree turns and one short rise. The start/finish line, at the intersection of Gay and High Streets, promises to be the site of an exhilarating finish.

“Wilmington University is proud to sponsor the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic’s Pro Women’s Criterium,” said WilmU President Dr. LaVerne Harmon. “We celebrate the strength and determination of the women who will come from across the country to participate in this prestigious event, and we’re delighted that our athletes and Student Life team will be there to cheer them on.”

The women’s race will be part of a fun-filled day, the 15th anniversary of professional racing and family-themed activities along the West Chester’s streets, which in addition to the professional races, includes a children’s race, an adult trike race, an adult amateur bike race, a kids’ fun zone, and a community festival.

“We are excited to see Wilmington University sponsor this year’s Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic and support our local communities in Chester County,” said Mark Yoder, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic.

Yoder welcomed WilmU by noting the institution’s focus on empowering its diverse students, most of whom work full- or part-time, to achieve their academic goals via flexible and convenient formats, in preparation for success in the global marketplace.

“The women who compete in the Wilmington University Pro Women’s Criterium exhibit that same sort of grit and determination,” he said. “And they provide an inspiration to young and old alike. These pro women athletes are the perfect role models for anyone aiming to better their lives.”

The Wilmington University Pro Women’s Criterium will start at 6:45 p.m. on August 10. You can join WilmU athletes and staff in supporting Chester County, the City of West Chester, and Women’s Cycling. Stop by the WilmU tent in the Community Festival!