The Aaron’s/L5Flyers Cycling Team pulled double duty by not only organizing a successful race weekend in the city of Atlanta, but also winning! Over 300 racers came out to both the Grant Park Criterium presented by Aaron’s/L5Flyers and the Aaron’s Buckhead Grand Prix for an exciting weekend of racing culminating in the season finale of the Georgia Cup racing series.
Grant Park Criterium presented by Aaron’s/L5Flyers
On Saturday, lovely Grant Park once again closed its streets to pedestrians for the cycling criterium everyone loves to hate. Up and down was the theme of the day with many racers proclaiming, “Hardest crit of the year!” With a $5,000 purse and over $4,000 in primes, the races were fast and furious. Most fields toppled under the weight of the relenting climbs and ruthless prime bell.
By the time the Elite race was about to begin, the Aaron’s/L5Flyers team was looking at the possibility of not winning on its home court for the first time ever. However, with 12 riders in the race, this was their best shot. The plan was simple: send early attacks up the road to soften up the field, then keep the race together until the last few laps when their strongest riders would attack after the field splitting last lap primes. Will McGinnis and Greg Gilbert carried the torch early by launching back to back attacks early in the race. This set the tone and ensured that only the strong would survive. With 10 minutes to go, the field was together until 3 riders slipped off the front. The race announcer called out the Aaron’s team, wondering how this could happen without any representation. Mark King, Dave Hicks and David Bell answered his catcalls by pulling the break back quickly in half a lap.
So with three laps to go the field was all together (what was left of it) and the prime bell rung loudly one more time. Ty Tagami, who had been sitting in patiently (and had spent most of the morning setting up barricades) launched his attack. No one dared to follow. Ty looked back and saw he had a gap. Three laps is a long way, but Ty feels no pain. He buried his head and drilled it. The peloton reacted and began the chase. With two to go, Ty still had a 10 second gap and rode threw an ocean of cheers from the hometown crowd. Brandon Tai and Chad Strickland forced their way to the front on the hairy descent to disrupt the chase. The last time up the climb Brandon and Chad sat up forcing the peloton to go around and by then it was too late for the other teams. Ty held them off for the dramatic solo victory!
“It’s an unbelievable feeling being off the front with three to go and having a bunch of guys working for you in your own team’s race.” Said Ty after the win. “Basically, in that situation you really have no option but to win or die trying. I’m just glad it was the former!”
The WIN.
Aaron’s Buckhead Grand Prix
The following day was a little less stressful thanks to Iron Data Cycling Team who helped with set-up and course marshal duties. The Aaron’s Team continued its racing success with a win in the Competitive field by Mike Hefner. Mike moved to DC earlier this year, but proclaimed he would return to win the Buckhead Grand Prix. Mike called his shot! He escaped half way through the race in a three-man break and crushed the other two riders in the sprint!
The other highlight of the day was the 3rd Annual Aaron’s Employee Race. Each year the Aaron’s Employees come out to support their team and do a one-lap “race” for bragging rights on their custom painted Aaron’s Cycling Team mountain bikes. It is by far, the fiercest competition of the day. This year Operational Vice President Phil Karl came out of nowhere in the final stretch to take the win. Nice job Phil!
As always, our great sponsors made this weekend possible and we thank you tremendously. The team also thanks Race Director Extraordinaire Julie Granger for organizing the event! Here’s Julie with the Aaron’s “Lucky Dog” at Grant Park!
Lucky Dog at the kids race. The kids race was serious.
A young racer sprints home. The calm before the storm.
e races were fast and furious. Most fields toppled under the weight of the relenting climbs and ruthless prime bell. 
