Old Town Criterion Graz: New Course, Old Excitement!
On July 28, it’s that time again: The Graz Old Town Criterion is taking place for the 27th time and brings the road cycling league directly to our beautiful city! As the seventh and penultimate stop of the Road Cycling League Austria, this race promises, as organizer and president of Cycling Austria Styria, Gerald Pototschnig, emphasizes, pure excitement: “No centimeter will be given away. This makes this race under the new philosophy so spectacular and perhaps more spectacular than it was before.”
Change in the Course Layout
This year there is a small but fine change in the course layout, as a construction site at Graz Tummelplatz necessitates an adapted course compared to last year. But don’t worry, the nearly one-kilometer-long lap through the Graz Old Town is still challenging!
The start and finish can be found as usual at Café Promenade, right next to the Burgtor. From there, it goes initially towards the opera, then back uphill over Bürgergasse, past the impressive Graz Cathedral and the castle. Imagine how the approximately 35 women and 45 men will tackle this demanding lap up to 50 times at this year’s Old Town Criterion!
Local Stars and Enthusiastic Fans
Even though big international stars can no longer participate for financial reasons, the value of the Old Town Criterion is undisputed. Gerald Pototschnig sees it as what it was over 40 years ago: “A great platform for local cycling and now also for women’s cycling.”
Among those participating is Valentina Gruber from the Gruppetto Graz Racing Team, who gives us an insight: “A criterion is simply an extremely fast race. It’s a lot about positioning and riding technique. Of course, it’s about how the team works together. It’s very complex, but that’s exactly what makes it so cool.”
Thousands of fans are expected along the course, just like during the comeback in 2022. Katharina Machner from Trofaiach perfectly describes the feeling: “It’s special because so many friends and family are along the course. When you’re really suffering, it really pushes you when you hear your name being called. That’s very motivating!”
A Race with History
The Graz Old Town Criterion was a fixture in the local cycling calendar for decades before it took a break due to financial turbulence in the mid-2000s and celebrated its great comeback in 2022. It’s nice that it will offer us so much action again in 2026!
So, grab your friends and family and be there when the Graz Old Town shakes on July 28! We’ll see you along the course! #bikegraz
