Criterium 80

The Criterium 80 is an electro-mechanical pinball machine from Recel S.A., a Spanish manufacturer that produced a range of distinctive games during the 1970s and 1980s. Released in 1975, this single-player game carries an unusual sports theme: bicycle racing. Criterium racing is a type of close, fast competition typically held on a short, defined track for a specified time or number of laps. Recel was the name the company used for its export games, and a domestic version was sold in Spain as Petaco's 1975 'Criterium 80'.

The wedge-head machine offers a well-rounded playfield with two flippers, two pop bumpers, two slingshots, six standup targets, three captive balls, three kick-out holes, and a spinning target. The maximum displayed point score is 999,990 points, and the sound package is simplicity itself, with three chimes providing the game's audio.

The game's designer is not documented, but Recel's willingness to explore themes outside the American mainstream gives the Criterium 80 real character. As an example of Spanish pinball production from the 1970s, it is sure to interest enthusiasts and collectors alike.