Kermesse (bicycle race)

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Criterium. (Discuss)

Kermesse is general name for a bicycle race held on a short circuit of public roads, usually closed to other traffic. There is no precise definition; the same race can be called a criterium, but the origins of the name come from its frequent association with village fair - kermesse in French or kermis in Dutch - when a bike race would be another attraction of a village fête.

Round-the-houses races of this sort are still popular in the Netherlands, where dense population and busy roads make the organization of more classic cycle races more difficult than elsewhere. They were also popular in neighbouring Belgium but their number and the consequences on traffic, whether the roads were closed or not and even if the circuit were longer than the kilometre or two of the classic kermesse, led the government to restrict their number in 1967. Since then, the number has declined, although they remain popular in Holland.

Races of this sort have proved difficult to organize in Britain, a country with population and road problems similar to Belgium's but without the public support for cycle-racing. The neighbouring island - and separate nation - of the Isle of Man recognised this need and introduced closed-roads racing generally and kermesse racing in particular to the Isle of Man Cycling Week which was run for many years after the motorcycle TT week.

Kermesse or criterium racing is a staple of competitive road cycling in the United States.