A fifth year for the American Criterium Cup returns with a collection of six familiar races across the central US, anchored by Saint Francis Tulsa Tough on June 6, 2026. From the $140,000 prize purse on offer, split evenly between pro women and pro men, each event will provide $16,000, while the series pays out an additional $44,000.

After the Tulsa, Oklahoma opener, racing moves to Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 27 for one of the 11 days of racing that is part of Tour of America’s Dairyland. July stops take place in Boise, Idaho for the Bailey & Glasser LLP Boise Twilight Criterium on the 11th and in Chicago, Illinois for one of the 10 days of racing that is part of Chicago GRIT. The Salt Lake City, Utah one-day race moves from June to mid-August, followed by the series finale on September 6 in St. Louis, Missouri at Bommarito Automotive Group Gateway Cup, traditionally the Giro della Montagna.

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“I’ve decided to return to racing in the WorldTour next year,” Ballerstedt posted to Instagram in November, but did not confirm a signed contract yet. “This year gave me something I’d been missing for a while: the pure joy of racing for myself. No pulling out in the final kilometers after my job was done — just fighting to the line again.

“Now, it feels like the right time to step back onto the big stage. I know my role, I know my strengths, and I’m ready to chase big results together with a team again.”

Rylee McMullen (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) won the green jersey as sprint champion, and her team celebrated the women’s team classification victory. Kendall Ryan (L39ION of Los Angeles) secured three victories in three starts and finished fourth overall.

Saint Francis Tulsa Tough has been part of American Criterium Cup since the series launch in 2022

Saint Francis Tulsa Tough has been part of American Criterium Cup since the series launch in 2022 (Image credit: Saint Francis Tulsa Tough)