At the time Brumbaugh Wealth Management signed on as sponsor of the pro women’s bike race in 2016, it also signaled a commitment to prize parity between men and women competing in the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic.

“We would not have considered being involved otherwise,” said Kimberly Brumbaugh, CEO of Brumbaugh Wealth Management. “Our corporate philosophy has always supported equal treatment regardless of one’s ethnicity or sex.”

For the third year, the Brumbaugh Wealth Management Pro Women’s Criterium will offer the same prize amount as the Iron Hill Pro Men’s Criterium. At both races, $7500 in prize money will be up for grabs.

This iconic West Chester event that takes place on Saturday, Aug. 11 is expected to attract a large field of top professional riders for both races.

Brumbaugh sees their sponsorship of the pro women’s race as a chance to inspire more female riders of all ages.

“We are pleased to support this inspiring women’s sports event, especially since it brings long-overdue parity between the pro men’s and pro women’s races,” she said. “The women involved in the race are committed. They are leaders. They are racing with their peers and developing relationships. And that is really in alignment with our firm.”

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Mark Yoder, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the organizer of the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic, couldn’t agree more.

“Not so long ago pro women’s racing was treated as an afterthought,” he said. “Thankfully, those days are over, and it is now taking on the greater importance that it deserves.”

As exemplified in the opening races of this year’s 11-race USA CRITS Championship Series, female participation is growing.

For example, at the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium that took place on April 28, a record number of nearly 100 pro women competed in the race. The trend continued at the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic on May 26 and the Oklahoma Pro-Am Classic that took place on June 1.

This momentum is expected to continue through the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic and beyond.

Today, all races that are part of the USA CRITS Championship Series offer “pedal parity” between men and women as a condition of being part of the national series.

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“We are impressed with the commitment shown to both the growth of women’s professional cycling and to gender equality,” said Rebecca Worthington, Vice President of Marketing for Benchmark Federal Credit Union, the title sponsor of the event. “I know we’ll once again see exceptional racing this year.”

The Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic starts with the West Chester Dental Arts Kids’ Race at 3:30 PM, followed an hour later by the Tolsdorf Trike Challenge, the popular tag-team race where adults compete on oversized tricycles. This series of hot-handed, cold-blooded heats pits businesses, organizations, and any group of five against each other for bragging rights and valuable prizes.

The Rothman Institute Amateur Criterium takes place at 5:45 PM, followed by the 40K Brumbaugh Wealth Management Pro Women’s Criterium at 6:45 PM. At 8 PM, one of the most important men’s professional cycling races hits the streets of West Chester, the 75K Iron Hill Pro Men’s Criterium.

In addition to bike racing, the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic will feature many family-friendly activities, including the Kids’ Zone and a Community Festival, where visitors will find a wide assortment of shopping booths with all the latest “must-haves” and a non-stop, party-like ambiance. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant will also host a Beer Garden near the start-finish line.

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