Documentary: In the fast lane with the Miami Blazers at America's toughest crit

American criterium racing is on the surface incredibly simple. Flat-out racing, for an hour or two, around a lap that is less than a mile. All crits have those three simple attributes. But criterium racing for those involved is complicated. The tactics are numerous, the tech choices are crucial, team chemistry is unique, and the politics of the peloton are fierce.

Within the simple structure of crits, everything is constantly shifting, both in the race and around it.

Of all the crits in the United States, none are bigger than the three days of racing at the Tulsa Tough series in Oklahoma. Tulsa Tough gets the luxury of being the crux of the American cycling calendar, as it follows the stage race block made up of the Redlands Cycling Classic, the Tour of the Gila and the Joe Martin Stage Race in April and May, and precedes the national championships at the end of June. Everyone is primed and ready to show off, with courses that suit a number of different rider types. It is such a sought-after prize that riders have been known to go from Unbound Gravel the week before to the high octane crit racing of Tulsa.

In this new GCN+ film the intensity of the Tulsa Tough series is shown through the eyes and perspectives of the Miami Blazers team. With tons of on-bike footage, drone shots and broadcast content, the characters of the Miami Blazers tell the story of American crits and Tulsa Tough through their eyes.

In crashing out and in success, criterium racing is a sport of spectacle and drama. While the narratives and racing dynamics of the crits are not the same as European road racing, the human interest stories at the centre of the contests are the same, the risks are the same and the drive of those interested in winning all comes from the same place.

Check out the trailer for the new documentary Fast Lane above and be sure to subscribe to GCN+ to watch our archive of bespoke cycling documentaries, as well as live racing from across the calendar and around the world.