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Berkeley Streets Criterium · Course recon

Berkeley Streets Criterium course recon

Learn the four corners before the whistle. Pick a corner or a straight on the map, the lap strip or the list to see what it asks of you, the official race notes and where to watch.

2026 course This recon shows the 2026 Berkeley Streets Criterium course from the 2026 race information. The course and schedule for the April 17–18, 2027 Berkeley Omnium will be confirmed in the 2027 race information.

RegisterPrintable prep sheetRoute on Strava
One lap
0.61 miles
34 ft of climbing per lap
Direction
Clockwise
Four right-hand corners
Start/finish
Hearst Avenue
Between McGee Ave and Grant St (2026 map)
Last corner to the line
About 300 m
Corner 4, onto a gentle rise
Race length
30 to 60 minutes
Timed races (2026)
Registration
Hearst Ave at McGee Ave
Check-in opens 6:50 a.m.
Race length
–
One lap
0.61 mi
Start
–

Criteriums are timed: your field races for a set number of minutes, then the officials count down the final laps. A lap is 0.61 miles, so riders pass the line every couple of minutes.

Route map of the Berkeley Streets Criterium course along Berkeley Way and McGee Avenue beside Ohlone Park
Official course map. Loading the interactive map…

Corners and straights

1 of 8 · Straight

Hearst Avenue: the start/finish straight

Rises about 35 ft over about 400 m, Corner 4 to Corner 1

The start/finish straight runs east on Hearst Avenue alongside Ohlone Park, rising gently toward the line. From Corner 4 to the line is about 300 m; Corner 1 comes about 95 m after it.

Official race information

  • The start/finish straight is on Hearst Avenue, alongside Ohlone Park. 2026 race information
  • The course map places the line on Hearst Avenue between McGee Avenue and Grant Street. 2026 race information
  • Registration is at McGee Avenue and Hearst Avenue. Race-day check-in opens at 6:50 a.m. and closes 15 minutes before each race. 2026 race information

Racer's notes

  • Corner 4 decides most sprints. Being near the front out of the last corner leaves the shortest, cleanest run to the line.
  • A sprint on a rise feels longer than it looks. Launch too early and the line seems to move away.
  • Know where you are in the race: lap cards at the line count down the final laps, and the bell rings for the last one.

General racing advice, not official race information.

Watching here

Best for starts, the final sprint, the announcer and results, and for cheering your racer. Closest to registration and the portable toilets around Hearst and McGee.

A women's field in lavender and pink kits lined up at the start of the Berkeley Streets Criterium
A women's field lined up at the start of a past Berkeley Streets Criterium.

How lap cards, the bell and primes work →

Course footage

Footage is labeled by year. Only footage from the course this recon shows is described as this course; earlier editions may differ in details such as the finish.

Course prep sheet

The whole course on one sheet: key facts, a cue card, every section and the official rules. Choose your field above to add your race to it.

Berkeley Streets Criterium · 2026 course

Course prep sheet

This recon shows the 2026 Berkeley Streets Criterium course from the 2026 race information. The course and schedule for the April 17–18, 2027 Berkeley Omnium will be confirmed in the 2027 race information.

One lap
0.61 miles. 34 ft of climbing per lap
Direction
Clockwise. Four right-hand corners
Start/finish
Hearst Avenue. Between McGee Ave and Grant St (2026 map)
Last corner to the line
About 300 m. Corner 4, onto a gentle rise
Race length
30 to 60 minutes. Timed races (2026)
Registration
Hearst Ave at McGee Ave. Check-in opens 6:50 a.m.

Cue card

From the lineWhat's there
0 mStart/finish line, Hearst Avenue
95 mCorner 1: right onto Grant Street
185 mCorner 2: right onto Berkeley Way
585 mCorner 3: right onto California Street
680 mCorner 4: right onto Hearst Avenue
990 mThe line again (0.61 mi)

Official course map

Route map of the Berkeley Streets Criterium course along Berkeley Way and McGee Avenue beside Ohlone Park

Section by section

#SectionWhat to know
S/FHearst Avenue: the start/finish straightStraight. Rises about 35 ft over about 400 m, Corner 4 to Corner 1The start/finish straight runs east on Hearst Avenue alongside Ohlone Park, rising gently toward the line. From Corner 4 to the line is about 300 m; Corner 1 comes about 95 m after it. Racer's note: Corner 4 decides most sprints. Being near the front out of the last corner leaves the shortest, cleanest run to the line.
1Corner 1: Hearst Avenue to Grant StreetCornerA right-hand turn from Hearst Avenue onto Grant Street, about 95 m past the line. Racer's note: Corner 1 arrives quickly after the start and after every sprint for a prime. Expect the field to bunch here.
–Grant StreetStraightA short block of about 90 m between Corners 1 and 2, close to level. Racer's note: Two corners this close together string the field out. Leave a small gap you can close easily, not a big one you'll have to sprint to shut.
2Corner 2: Grant Street to Berkeley WayCornerA right-hand turn from Grant Street onto Berkeley Way, at the high point of the lap. Racer's note: A clean exit here carries speed onto the back straight, where the road tilts downhill.
–Berkeley Way: the back straightStraight. Falls about 35 ft over about 400 mThe back straight runs west on Berkeley Way for about 400 m, dropping toward Corner 3. Racer's note: The fastest part of the lap, and the cheapest place to move up: use the draft here rather than fighting in the corners.
3Corner 3: Berkeley Way to California StreetCornerA right-hand turn from Berkeley Way onto California Street, at the bottom of the lap. Racer's note: Riders arrive here at the fastest point of the lap. Be smooth and predictable, and leave room for the rider beside you.
–California StreetStraightAbout 95 m of nearly level road between Corners 3 and 4. Racer's note: There's little room to move up here. Your position for Corner 4 is mostly settled on Berkeley Way.
4Corner 4: California Street to Hearst AvenueCornerThe last corner: a right-hand turn onto Hearst Avenue, about 300 m before the line. Racer's note: In the final laps the fight for Corner 4 often decides the race before the sprint begins.

Race rules and logistics (official)

  • Water on site is limited. Bring your own water. 2026 race information
  • Free lap applies. Bring wheels. 2026 race information
  • ANSI or Snell certified helmets are required for all riders. 2026 race information
  • Obey all traffic laws on city streets when you aren't racing, including stop signs, red lights and yielding to pedestrians. The race's partnership with the city depends on it. 2026 race information
  • Carpooling or public transit is strongly advised. Street parking is free on Sundays but extremely limited, and Downtown Berkeley BART is about half a mile from the start/finish. 2026 race information
  • BART service starts at 8 a.m. on Sundays, after the earliest races start. BART

Riding the course before race day

  • The circuit is open city streets except during the race. On a preview ride, stop at every stop sign and signal and yield to pedestrians; there's no closed course until race day.
  • Walk or ride the loop clockwise to see it the way you'll race it: east on Hearst Avenue, then right on Grant Street, Berkeley Way and California Street.
  • Junior and Novice entries, including collegiate Novice, have included the Beginner Race Program on race morning: a skills tune-up with laps of the course before racing starts.

Check the current race information before race day. Racer's notes are general advice, not official race information. Distances and climbing measured from OpenStreetMap and USGS data are approximate. berkeleyomnium.com/berkeley-streets-criterium/course

Where this recon comes from

  • 2026 Berkeley Omnium race information: Course format, lap length and climbing, start/finish, registration, course rules and the race schedule.
  • OpenStreetMap contributors: Street geometry for the map and corner-to-corner distances.
  • USGS 3D Elevation Program: Which way each straight tilts.

No official GPX file is published on this site yet. The route is on Strava. Course details can change between editions; the race information published with registration is the final word.

Plan your race

Register

Course questions

Berkeley Streets Criterium course: FAQ

How long is a lap of the Berkeley Streets Criterium?

0.61 miles, with 34 feet of elevation gain per lap, on a four-corner course beside Ohlone Park in Berkeley, California.

Which way does the Berkeley Streets course go?

Clockwise: east on Hearst Avenue, south on Grant Street, west on Berkeley Way and north on California Street, so all four corners are right-hand turns.

Where is the start/finish line?

On Hearst Avenue alongside Ohlone Park. The 2026 course map places the line between McGee Avenue and Grant Street, about 300 m after the last corner.

How long are the races?

They're timed. In 2026, races ran from 30 minutes for the Novice, Women's 4/Novice and younger junior fields to 60 minutes for the Women's Pro/1/2/3 and Pro/1/2 races.

Is there a free lap?

Yes. In 2026 a free lap applied, so bring wheels.

Where can spectators watch?

Anywhere outside the barriers: the start/finish on Hearst Avenue, the corners and the straights. Cross the course only at a marshaled crossing, when a marshal says it's clear.