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Joan Thomas
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For Immediate Release
Dawson win wraps up Speed Week; Hekman takes overall
Atlanta, Ga. (May 5, 2008) The final installment of the 2008 USA CRITS Speed
Week series became a race within a race on Sunday, May 4. With a long-standing
breakaway out in front of the field for most of the 55 laps that made up the
inaugural Global Imports BMW Sandy Springs
Cycling Challenge, the race for the overall Speed Week title was being
watchfully contested in the pack. The numbers and sheer power of Mark Hekman's
TOSHIBA-Santo's teammates, however, simply outgunned Jake Keough's CRCA/Sakonnet
Technology squad, which broke the first place series tie between the two and
delivered Hekman the overall victory for the week.
"Since we ended up being tied before the start," a breathless Hekman said at the
finish,"all I had to do today was watch him and beat him over the line, so it
was pretty exciting. Coming in the last corner, I jumped on the inside of him,
got a big gap, and then just powered up this hill."
A large crowd lined a hilly course in Sandy Springs to eventually watch Hekman's
triumph, but not before they got to cheer on a seven-man breakaway roll away
from the main group early on in the race. That split comprised Christian Helmig
(Metro Volkswagen), Michael Stoop (TIME), Bennet Van Der Genugten (Team Inferno
Racing), Bruno Langlois (Myogenesis.com), Paul Martin (Texas Roadhouse), Rob
White (ABD/GEARGRINDER) and eventual race winner Peter Dawson (Rock Racing).
With two teammates supporting him in the field, including 2008 Athens Twilight
Criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati, Dawson and the rest of his companions in the
escape took turns at pulling their lead farther and farther away from the pack
behind them.
"We had seven guys up there and, for the first amount of time that we were away,
we all chopped off very hard." Dawson said afterwards. "They were taking some
pretty hard turns and managed to keep it out there."
As the race for the win wound down, Dawson began to contribute less to the
group's effort and storing up the energy he needed to win the final sprint.
"I played it pretty foxy in the end," said Dawson, fairly competent of his turn
of speed, having been a multiple world team pursuit champion on the track. "I
really had nothing left and, if they attacked me, I probably would have got
dropped. But I managed to pull out on the right-hand side when they all fanned
out across the course, and ran out of gas in front of me."
In the women's race, Tina Pic brought home an unsurprising victory for herself
and her Colavita/Sutter Home teammates. Despite the entire women's field being
essentially decimated from a long week of continual racing, Pic not only easily
won the uphill sprint finish ahead of chief rival Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine),
but clinched the overall series victory that she seemed destined to win
virtually from the outset.
Results Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge
Pro Men
1. Peter Dawson, Rock Racing, 1:11:31.500
2. Bruno Langlois, Myogenesis.com, +0.200
3. Christan Helmig, Metro Volkswagen, +0.200
4. Paul Martin, Texas Roadhouse, +0.200
5. Bennet Van Der Genugten, Team Inferno, +0.500
6. Rob White, ABD/GEARGRINDER, +0.600
7. Mike Stoop, TIME Pro Cycling, +0.900
8. Mark Hekman, TOSHIBA-Santo, +26.500
9. Jake Keough, CRCA/Sakonnet Technology, +26.700
10. Jeff Hopkins, Team Inferno, +26.700
Pro Women
1. Tina Pic, Colavita/Sutter Home, 45:25.800
2. Laura Van Gilder, Cheerwine, +0.200
3. Kelly Benjamin, Cheerwine, +0.700
4. Catherine Cheatley, Cheerwine, +0.800
5. Holli Steelman, Juice Plus, +1.100
6. Julie Trew, Vanderkitten, +1.100
7. Shontelle Gauthier, Colavita/Sutter Home, +1.100
8. Tiffany Cromwell, Colavita/Sutter Home, +1.500
9. Rebecca Larson, Aarons, +1.800
10. Barnard Tamyra, Herbalife, +1.800
2008 USA CRITS Speed Week Overall
Pro Men
1. Mark Hekman, TOSHIBA-Santo, 1367
2. Jake Keough, CRCA/Sakonnet Technology, 1363
3. Jeff Hopkins, Team Inferno, 1302
4. David Guttenplan, TIME, 1258
5. Oscar Henao, Clinica Union, 1161
6. Rob White, ABD/GEARGRINDER,1092
7. Adam Myerson, TIME, 1058
8. Aldo Ilesic, Black Sheep Cartel, 1055
9. Juan Forero, Colombian National Team, 1040
10. Christan Helmig, Metro Volkswagen. 984
Pro Women
1. Tina Pic, Colavita/Sutter Home, 1487
2. Benjamin Kelly, Cheerwine, 1379
3. Laura Van Gilder, Cheerwine, 1355
4. Rebecca Larson, Aaron's, 1321
5. Shontelle Gauthier, Colavita/Sutter Home, 1307
6. Anna Lang, Aaron's, 1290
7. Tiffany Cromwell, Colavita/Sutter Home,1286
8. Catherine Cheatley, Cheerwine, 1240
9. Holli Steelman, Juice Plus/NC, 1190
10. Jenny Trew, Vanderkitten, 1172
About USA CRITS
USA CRITS National Criterium Series has been developed to feature a brand of cycling unique to the United States, the criterium. Criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets. They offer spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians, world and national champions up-close as they ride at top speed. This has made the criterium format the most spectator-friendly form of cycling entertainment. Events on the USA CRITS series have the ideals that have made criterium racing an American legacy: Challenging courses that showcase arts and entertainment districts; a large and energized base of spectators; broad community support; and strong marketing opportunities for sponsors. For more information visit www.usacrits.com