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Under the lights in
Athens by Jim Williams
April 30, 2005
Athens, GA. The Athens twilight criterium took place this evening under the city lights and party atmosphere only a college town in spring
can bring. With 15,000 “locals” lining the streets and with restaurants
and bars packed to capacity 75 women lined up to take the start at 8:45 pm. Quark
had only 4 riders take the line as Tina Pic and Laura Van Gilder had earlier in the day competed in the Pan/American games in Mae Del Plata, Argentina with Pic winning for the US National team and earning
a trip to the World Championships held in Spain this coming September and VanGilder finishing fifth after doing her job as
a loyal lieutenant as Pic’s lead-out. Meanwhile, Quark’s Annette Beutler was battling the top European climbers
with the Swiss National team at the Gracia Orlova in the Czech Republic. The four Quark riders to show up in Athens were determined to carry on the winning
ways and show what they were capable of. This night would be a test of rider’s nerves and perseverance as the dark streets
were made even more challenging by a steady rain throughout the race. Quark went to the front as soon as the gun dropped to
stay out of trouble and the pace set started to shed riders immediately. Making it harder on those behind trying to stay in
contact was the number of primes being offered made sure that there was no lull in the action at the front. The constant pressure
soon created a group of only 17 at the front, when prime Queen Lauran Franges of Victory Brewing took over and won two in
a row. This caused 5 more riders to lose contact and whittled the group down to 12 with Quarks Helen Kelly, Candice Blickem,
Grace Fleury and Sarah Uhl all present. With all 4 Quark riders present things
were looking good for the girls in blue and yellow, as they moved to the front and took control of the race. Constant attacks
by the Quark girls earned them 6 primes during the race but the constant money on the line gave the group behind plenty of
incentive to make sure no one got to far away. Franges of Victory rode as though she was an entire team and not only covered
attempted breaks by the Quark girls but also took a good share of the primes. With 4 laps to go Candice Blickem of Quark gave
one last effort to repeat her 2003 Athens win and brake away from the bunch but she could stay away for only a lap and it
was obvious that the winner would come from a the select group that had survived. Quark went to the front with 2 to go and
it was the amazing Blickem who after her sole effort took over the front. At the 1 lap to go bell things were looking great
for Quark as its riders were at the front with their sprinter for the day Sarah Uhl tucked on Helen Kelly’s wheel. As
the riders came around the last corner before the finish, it was the Quarks Grace Fleury through first but Shannon Hutchinson
of Aarons furnishings and Lauren Franges of Victory that had jumped her wheel and then launched their sprint. Those two drag
raced to the line taking 1-2 with a late surging Uhl nipping Sarah Tillotson
of ABD Cycling for third.
Click here to read Sarah's Diary on Athens
Athens Twilight Criterium
1.
Shannon Hutchinson Aarons Furnishing
2.
Lauren Franges Victory
Brewing
3.
Sarah Uhl
Quark
4.
Sarah Tillotson ABD
Cycling
5.
Kelly Benjamin Bicycle
Store
6.
Grace Fleury
Quark
7. Helen Kelly
Quark
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