Although the name has changed to the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic, you can still count on the fun and excitement of past years. Thrill to top-notch professional bike racing with the Iron Hill Pro Men’s Criterium and The Wilmington University Pro Women’s Criterium. Enjoy top amateur racing in the Rothman Institute Amateur Criterium. Have a blast watching the Tolsdorf Trike Challenge. Sign up your children in the West Chester Dental Arts Kids’ Race. Mark your calendar: September 12, downtown West Chester. . . for the thrill of it!

Every year, the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic, sponsored by Benchmark Federal Credit Union, brings thousands of race spectators and their families onto the streets of West Chester where they get an up-close look at top athletes as they race in the downtown streets at speeds up to 35 mph and more. This year’s Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic is expected to be the largest turnout since the race’s inception.

“This is an exceptional, family-friendly event in the heart of our community. We are so excited, as the only federal credit union to exclusively serve Chester County, to sponsor the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic and have our staff volunteering,” says Dan Machon Jr., Benchmark Federal Credit Union President and CEO.

In addition to top-notch professional bike racing, the day will be packed with lots of family-friendly events and activities throughout West Chester.

The fun and excitement begins at 3:30pm with the West Chester Dental Arts Kids’ Race, a series of age-determined sprints for children between 3 to 10. At 4:00pm the MacElree Harvey Kids’ Zone and Chester County Hospital Community Festival open with a great choice of family-friendly activities. Next up, 4:30pm finds adult-sized tricycles taking over Gay Street for the Tolsdorf Trike Challenge, a double-elimination tag-team tricycle race. The excitement continues to build, first with the Rothman Institute Amateur Criterium at 5:45pm, followed by the Wilmington University Pro Women’s Criterium at 6:45pm, culminating at 8pm with the Iron Hill Pro Men’s Criterium.

Truth be told, this day of nail-biting competitive racing will have started much earlier with the Rothman Institute Amateur Cycling Trials at 8:00am and running until 3:00pm on the campus of Bayard Rustin High School in West Chester. This series of nine criterium-style races is open to Cat. 2, 3, 4, 5 men and women riders, as well as masters 35+, 45+, 55+, 65+ and juniors 9 to 18. The top qualifiers in selected categories will help determine the field for the aforementioned Amateur Finals.

Enjoy all that downtown West Chester has to offer during a day of racing excitement and family fun for everyone. Welcome to the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic, sponsored by Benchmark Federal Credit Union.