Best insurance for crit racing
Criterium racing accidents are part of the sport. We work hard to get you back racing as soon as possible.
Crash Damage
Your bike is covered at all times for all types off accidental damage including crash damage that happens while racing.
Medical Coverage
If you are injured while racing the policy will cover your unpaid medical bills, up to the policy limit
Liability Coverage
We will protect you from personal liability (injury, sickness, death, or damage to property) you cause while riding your bike.
Crit racing bike damage coverage
Crashed, crushed, and covered: Why crit racers can't afford to race without bike insurance
Criteriums are inherently crash-prone due to their unique format: mass start, multi-lap races on closed courses under a mile with 4-6 corners per lap at high speeds. The frequent high-speed cornering creates the greatest risk, as riders must navigate turns while tightly packed together. Poor cornering techniques like mid-corner braking significantly increase danger. The tight peloton format compounds risks through incidental contact that can escalate into major multi-rider pile-ups when spacing isn't properly managed. Additionally, downtown street venues present varying surfaces and obstacles, including potholes, sewer grates, and uneven pavement that further complicate safe navigation.
Individual rider errors become catastrophic in criterium racing due to pack dynamics. With riders separated by mere inches at 25-35+ mph speeds, a single mistake, such as a sudden movement, poor line choice, or momentary lapse in concentration, often triggers devastating chain reactions. The physics of tightly packed peloton racing means there's virtually no time or space for others to react safely when one rider goes down, triggering a cascading effect that can affect dozens of riders as they cannot avoid hitting fallen cyclists and bikes ahead of them.
Our optional* racing coverage provides the full replacement value of your bike specifically for race-related crashes, which are explicitly excluded from conventional insurance. It also covers incidents during travel to events, accidental damage, and even gear such as racing wheels, spare parts, and apparel. These protections are simply unavailable elsewhere and essential for competitive cyclists who rely on expensive, specialized equipment that can be totaled during competition in an instant through no fault of their own.
* Coverage must be active at the time of the accident and can be added at the time of purchase or later.
Medical
Limit or eliminate out-of-pocket medical expenses by filling the gap in your primary health plan.
Cycling crashes produce a predictable pattern of injuries, with broken collarbones leading as the most common traumatic injury. A staggering 13.5% of cyclists experienced clavicle fractures, dramatically higher than the 2-6 percent rate in the general population. Head injuries represent the most serious consequences, with research showing a significant association between clavicle fractures and concussions, indicating that many cyclists who break their collarbones also suffer head trauma. The high-speed nature of criterium racing amplifies these risks, as riders can strike pavement, barriers, or other competitors at significant velocities.
Beyond head and collarbone injuries, cyclists frequently sustain wrist, elbow, ankle, and spine fractures under similar circumstances. These injuries typically occur as riders instinctively extend their hands to break falls or when feet strike the ground while carrying momentum. Road rash, while less serious than fractures, often proves the most persistent annoyance for recovering cyclists. These large skin abrasions from hitting and skidding along pavement are common in cycling and frequently require hospital treatment for proper cleaning and care.
Given the high injury rates and expensive treatments associated with competitive cycling, our optional* medical gap insurance addresses a critical financial gap. It is specifically designed to cover out-of-pocket expenses that remain after your primary health plan pays its portion, including deductibles, co-insurance, and copays. For competitive cyclists who face significant risks, this coverage provides essential financial protection when medical expenses are most likely to occur.
* Coverage must be active at the time of the accident and can be added at the time of purchase or later.
Liability
A must-have financial protection for the highest level of risk exposure
Liability exposure during competitive cycling presents unique legal challenges that differ significantly from recreational riding. When cyclists participate in organized races, criteriums, or group training events, the density of riders, high speeds, and aggressive positioning create numerous scenarios where one rider's actions can cause crashes affecting multiple participants. Unlike solo accidents, racing incidents often involve chain reactions where a single rider's mistake—such as an erratic line, sudden braking, or equipment failure—can bring down entire groups. While race organizers typically require participants to sign waivers, these documents don't eliminate all legal exposure, particularly in cases involving gross negligence or reckless behavior. The competitive environment can blur the lines between acceptable racing tactics and negligent conduct, making it difficult to determine fault when crashes result in serious injuries or property damage.
The financial consequences of racing-related liability can be substantial, especially when injuries require extensive treatment, surgery, or result in long-term disabilities. Professional and amateur racers alike face potential lawsuits not only from injured competitors but also from spectators, volunteers, or officials who might be affected by crashes. Conventional insurance typically excludes competitive activities, leaving racers personally liable for legal defense costs and potential judgments. Given that a single crash can generate multiple claims reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, liability protection specifically designed for competitive cycling becomes essential. Providing both legal defense and financial protection, it allows racers to focus on competition rather than worry about the potentially devastating financial consequences of an accident they might cause during the heat of competition.
Our optional* bicycle liability coverage operates on two critical fronts. First, it provides immediate legal defense by assigning qualified attorneys to represent the insured cyclist, eliminating the need for expensive attorney retainers that can cost $500 to $1,000 per hour. Second, if the legal defense is unsuccessful, the policy maintains a cash reserve to satisfy plaintiff demands up to the chosen limit, ensuring the cyclist faces no out-of-pocket financial responsibility for settlements or judgments.
* Coverage must be active at the time of the accident and can be added at the time of purchase or later.
Membership discounts
Supporting cycling's growth: Discounts for members of organizations that foster the sport
Velosurance offers a 10% discount to members of three major cycling organizations: USA Cycling (USAC), USA Triathlon (USAT), and the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). This discount recognizes the work these organizations do to promote and develop cycling in the United States and makes comprehensive bike insurance more affordable for serious cyclists who are already invested in their sport through organizational membership.
To receive the discount, customers simply select their membership organization when requesting a quote, and we will automatically apply the 10% discount to every premium. This membership discount program is particularly beneficial for competitive cyclists who likely already maintain these memberships for sanctioned racing events, training programs, or advocacy support. The discount rewards them with a reduced rate for protecting their valuable equipment for fostering the sport in the USA.
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Coverages and Features
Velosurance offers must-have protection such as accidental damage, theft, or loss in transit. Each policy can be customized by adding additional coverages such as liability protection, uninsured motorist, and medical payments. Select any coverage to see the details.
Bicycles are very easy to steal and equally difficult to recover, and even a hefty U-lock doesn’t guarantee your bike is still there when you return. Velosurance provides peace of mind if it is stolen or damaged in the process.
Our policy will pay to replace your ride if it is accidentally damaged and beyond repair, including damage that occurs while being carried on or in your vehicle. If it can be repaired, we will pay all the costs associated with the bike's repair, including tax, labor, and shipping, minus the deductible. Cosmetic damage that does not affect safety is excluded.
Our policy optional coverage purchase will protect and defend you from your personal liability (injury, sickness, death, or damage to property, including fire damage) that you are found legally liable for. Coverage limits offered: $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $300,000 or $500,000 per occurrence.
E-bike liability insurance →If you’re hurt and require medical attention, our optional medical gap will take care of your medical bills, up to the selected limit. The payments are paid directly to you to supplement the deductible of your personal health insurance policy.
Medical gap insurance →Depreciation is a hidden deductible that increases every year and is applied if the bicycle is stolen or totaled. No one is ever happy with an Actual Cash Value insurance settlement: the bike is first devalued, and then a deductible is applied, resulting in a reimbursement that is far less than the cost of a replacement. We reimburse without depreciation, for the cost of a replacement that is of like, kind, and quality similar to your totaled bike.
One of the scariest things that can happen to a cyclist is getting hit by a car. This coverage will pay for medical expenses, physical therapy, mental health services, lost wages, and other expenses that arise from a bicycle-car accident.
Uninsured motorist insurance →We cover all electrically assisted Class 1, 2, and 3 bikes with a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph. All protections available for conventional bicycles also apply to electric ones.
E-bike insurance →Bikes often get damaged in transit by personal vehicles, airlines, or courier services. Filing a claim with the airlines and courier services is a notoriously difficult process with a questionable outcome. We cover the insured bicycle for loss or damage while it's on its way to or from your destination by air or road. Even if it falls off a vehicle rack or is hit in a rear-end accident, it is covered, no arguments.
Bicycle travel coverage →If you go down in a crash, we cover your ride as well as your apparel, such as helmet, shoes, glasses, or riding kit that are torn up, and pay up to $500 per accident and $1,000 per term. Spare parts that are not installed, such as a spare wheelset, are also covered up to $500 per loss and $1,000 per year.
Our policy does not piggypack on any coverage you may already have, such as homeowners policies. Filing a claim won’t impact your rates with other carriers. With home insurance premiums rising each year in the U.S., it’s wise to reserve that policy for major incidents, because no matter how valuable your bike is, it’s still a lot cheaper than a kitchen fire or a flooded basement.
We cover the insured bike at all times, anywhere in the USA and Canada, and can be extended worldwide on request. There are no exclusions on the time of day or limitations on how long it can be stored away from home. 24/7/365 means every minute of every day, no matter where or when.
In the heat of a race, the focus on speed often outweighs concerns for safety, leaving little margin for error. If you go down in a crash, this optional coverage takes care of repairs or replacement. If you use your bike in a competitive environment, this is a no-brainer because it offers protection in the highest-risk category.
Bicycle racing insurance →If your travels take you beyond the USA and Canada, for a small additional premium, this option extends the physical loss and damage protection, including loss or damage caused by an airline, to any country in the world.
International coverage →You can lend it to anyone you choose, and it will be covered. The bike and the person riding it are covered as if it were you riding it‚ this includes theft and crash damage as well as any purchased optional coverages.
We do not dictate what type or brand of lock must be used to protect your ride from theft – you are welcome to use any lock that you trust. The best security is provided by metal locks combined with a high-quality chain. Securing your ride to a solid and immovable object, such as a bike rack, with a high-quality lock will send the thief onto the one secured with a more vulnerable lock.
Why Velosurance is best for your bike
Not all types of insurance are created equal. Velosurance levels the playing field by offering a stand-alone bike insurance policy, where claims will not affect your homeowner or renters policy premiums.
| Policy Coverage |  | Homeowner/Renters Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Insured at Full Value | Yes | Possibly |
| Crash Damage | Yes | No |
| Theft Coverage | Yes | Limited |
| Theft by Force | Yes | No |
| Theft of Accessories | Yes | Limited |
| Theft Away From Home | Yes | Possibly |
| Vehicle Contact | Yes | No |
| Personal Liability | Yes | Possibly |
| Permissive Use Policy | Yes | No |
| Replacement Rental | Yes | No |
| Event Fee Return | Yes | No |
| Cycling Apparel Coverage | Yes | No |
| Medical Payments | Yes | Possibly |
| Racing Coverage | Yes | No |
| E-bikes | Yes | No |
| Coverage in-transit | Yes | No |
| USAC, USAT and IMBA Member Discount | Yes | No |
| FREE INSTANT QUOTE |
Not all insurance policies provide the same level of protection, and many people only discover gaps in their coverage after filing a claim. We’ve done the hard work of reviewing the fine print. To see how plans compare, check out our insurance comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does bike insurance cover criterium racing?
- Yes, when racing coverage is elected on the bike, crashes in competition are then covered like any other crash, at the bike's stated value with no depreciation, where conventional policies exclude competitive use outright. Criteriums earn their reputation, with tightly packed fields taking four to six corners a lap at 25 to 35 mph, so this is the coverage crit racers buy the policy for. You can add it at purchase or mid-term, but it only covers crashes that happen after it is in place, so add it before the season, not after the wreck.
- What happens if my bike is damaged in a crit crash?
- With racing coverage elected on the bike, the policy pays to repair it, or replaces it at stated value if it is totaled. Fault does not affect your claim: in a pack separated by inches, one rider's sudden movement can bring down dozens, and your coverage pays either way. Racing wheels, apparel, and spare parts are covered too, up to $500 per loss with a $1,000 policy term limit on parts.
- What if I am injured in a criterium?
- Optional medical gap insurance covers the out-of-pocket expenses left after your primary health plan pays its share: deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Crit crashes have a signature injury: 13.5% of competitive cyclists have broken a clavicle, against 2 to 6 percent of the general population, and collarbone surgery alone can run $11,000 to $17,000. The coverage must be active at the time of the accident, so add it before race day.
- Does liability coverage apply if I cause a crash in a race?
- Yes, when elected before the accident, liability coverage works on two fronts. It pays for your legal defense, assigning attorneys whose fees would otherwise run several hundred dollars an hour with retainers reaching $15,000, and it pays covered settlements or judgments up to your chosen limit. Race waivers do not stop rider-to-rider claims, and one pile-up can put several riders and their bikes on your tab at once, so this is where crit racers carry the most exposure.
- When do I need to add racing coverage?
- Before the accident, full stop: the coverage must be active at the time of the crash for a racing claim to pay. If you don't elect it when you buy the policy, make sure to add it before the racing season begins. The same timing applies to the optional medical gap and liability coverages.
- Is my bike covered while traveling to a race?
- Yes. The policy covers loss or damage in transit by personal vehicle, airline, or courier, including rack incidents and rear-end impacts, and theft is covered at home or away, including during travel to events. Getting to the start line is covered along with the race itself.
- Do USA Cycling, USA Triathlon, or IMBA members get a discount?
- Yes: members of USA Cycling (USAC), USA Triathlon (USAT), or the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) receive a 10% discount. Select your membership organization when requesting a quote and the discount is applied automatically to every premium. Most crit racers already hold a USAC license for sanctioned events, so the discount is usually just there for the taking.
- Does the policy pay full value for a totaled race bike?
- Yes. The bike is insured at stated value with no depreciation, so a total loss pays the full amount the bike is insured for, not what a three-year-old frame fetches on the used market. For crit racers on expensive, specialized equipment that can be totaled in an instant through no fault of their own, that difference is the whole point of the policy.
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America's best bicycle insurance
If bike racing is your passion, bicycle racing insurance from Velosurance is an absolute no-brainer.