Sunny King Criterium
Anniston, AL
May 6, 2006
by Aaron's Professional Womens Cycling Team
The Aaron’s Pro Women continued to show their presence on the NRC scene this
past weekend in Anniston, AL with another podium finish. For an area
generally known for its deep NASCAR roots, everyone was pleasantly surprised
with the number of fans and their sincere interest and enthusiasm in the
racing taking place.
The Aaron’s Pro Women’s Cycling Team gathered Friday in the familiar springtime
Atlanta residence of the Hutchison-Krupat’s. Saturday morning they took off for
another quick ride in the Hank Aaron Jaguar over to Anniston, AL. In the Sunny
King Criterium’s first year as a Women’s NRC race, the competition was extremely
fierce. While the size of the field was somewhat smaller than the previous
weekend all of the heavy hitters were present and there was no lack of
excitement or competition.
The Aaron’s Women showed their presence early in the race with attacks from
Candice Blickem and Catherine Powers fast and often. Following a combination of
attacks from Shannon Hutchison-Krupat and Mackenzie Dickey Katherine Carrol of
Victory Brewing put in a hard attack up the inside of the finishing straight
that would prove to be the initiation of the deciding break. Aaron’s sent
Candice Blickem off in pursuit of Katherine which created a significant
separation in the field that resulted in a group of 9 riders that contained
Catherine and Candice of Aaron’s as well as great representation from Victory,
Cheerwine and Colavita. In addition to Catherine and Candice, Victory’s
Katherine Carrol was joined by their top sprinters Laura Yoisten and Lauren
Franges while Colavita had their aces Tina Pic and Gina Grain and Cheerwine had
Kelly Benjamin and Charm Breon.
The Aaron’s Women had taken notes from the prior weekend in Roswell and
tactically rode the break perfectly all the way. In the final lap Candice made
sure the pace was high and that Catherine was in good position as they
approached the final turn. As the crowds waited in anticipation, it was Tina Pic
putting her wheel into the final turn just ahead of Catherine’s and as they
stood up and gave it their all up the finishing stretch Tina held on to the
slight advantage over Catherine to take the win with Catherine in second with
Laura Yoisten rounding out the podium. As the field came in Aaron’s sprinters
Shannon and Mackenzie wanted to make sure that they put the final Aaron’s stamp
on the race with a 1-2 in the field sprint.