Menzies, Cliff-Ryan nab soaking Athens Twilight

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It was a dark and stormy night for the racers of the 30th Athens Twilight Criterium, an annual excuse for a gigantic party in the home of the University of Georgia.

Karl Menzies sprinted to victory from a six-man break which formed midway through the men's 80km event. Joining Menzies in the attack were Alessandro Bazzana (Fly V Australia), Hilton Clarke (Bahati Foundation), Luca Damiani (Kenda p/b Gear Grinder), Ken Hanson (Team Type 1) and Ty Magner (Locos Cycling Team).

The sextet worked well together, initially putting time into the field to gain an advantage before backing off when necessary to conserve some energy for the finale, which was sure to be interesting.

"With the conditions like they were, the top 20 guys in the race were always near the front," Menzies explained afterwards.

"There were a lot of attacks the first half of the race. We were covering everything. We had someone in every move. It just happened to be the one I was in that stuck."

Damiani instigated the decisive move but it was Menzies who made a solo bid with just over a lap to go that only Bazzana was able to cover.

"He [Bazzana] attacked through the bottom two corners, but coming out of the last corner I was able to get back up to him," Menzies said.

It was then a case of the towering Australian using his superior strength and speed to kick in the finale and take what was a much-needed win for both himself and the UnitedHealthcare team.

Even with the pitch black skies and pounding rain, the women's pro field waged a fast and furious battle on the four-corner course.

The Colavita-Baci team may have lost its star sprinter in Tina Pic when she retired this year, but the Georgia-based team found a solid replacement in Cliff-Ryan who claimed the victory in the Athens Twilight Criterium.

The in-line skater turned road racer soldiered through a pounding rain storm to emerge from the much-reduced field on the home stretch a clear winner.

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