Link to Article on The Red & Black
Olivia Sayer
Scenes during day two of the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium in Athens, Georgia, Saturday, April 27, 2024. The weekend included live music, stage races and food trucks. (Photo/Sophie Ralph)
In the streets of Athens, Tom Gibbons stood at the top of the podium.
He raised his hands in celebration, as the crowd erupted. A few moments prior, Gibbons was doused in beer after winning the Men’s Pro race at the Athens Twilight Criterium. It was a moment he dreamed about.
“Every once in a while, there’s [a race] that’s really meaningful to a community,” former Athens-resident Gibbons said. “One that has been long-standing in a community, and that’s Athens.”
The Athens Twilight Criterium took place April 26-27 in downtown Athens for a prize pool of $120,000. With over 170 riders at the start line, the women’s and men’s pro races headlined the event. The opportunity to compete in the Classic City was an impactful experience for many riders, including several first-time visitors.
“I’m even like, ‘should I move to Athens,”’ cyclist Esma Taylor said. “This place is super rad. It’s lived up to expectations for sure.”
Not many recognize the aura of Athens more than L39ION of Los Angeles’ Alexis Magner, who took home gold in the Women’s Pro Criterium for the second consecutive year. To make the moment even more special, Magner earned the victory in her hometown.
“Besides the football, this is the cornerstone of Athens,” Magner said. “It’s so awesome to have the entire community out here supporting it, and the cycling scene is the biggest [criterium] that we do all year in the U.S.”
Although she knew losing would not have meant the end of the world, Magner wanted to perform well. Her 150 friends and family in attendance amplified her desire to take home the win.
“There’s definitely some pressure,” Magner said. “I was nervous coming in. To win in front of all my friends and family is just so special.”
After Magner secured her victory, it was off to the races for those competing in the Men’s Pro Criterium. As with the women’s race, the field was stacked with cyclists like Gibbons, Danny Summerhill, Robin Carpenter and last year’s champion Bryan Gomez among those competing for the top spot.
Gibbons broke away from the main field with around 52 laps remaining. With over a 26-second lead and 47 laps left, his opposition planned to let him tire out on his own, rather than try to attack.
“I was extremely tired,” Gibbons said. “80 laps in you know that everybody’s hurting. And if somebody looks like they’re not hurting, they’re just bluffing. That’s the moment you got to hit it. When you hit it like I just did, sometimes they don’t react. When they don’t react, there’s no closing the gap. So it just worked out.”
With 30 laps remaining, chaos ensued after a halt to the race. A one-rider crash halted a four-rider breakaway and allowed the main field to catch up. As a result, all riders were asked to stop before the original breakaway received a 14-second lead.
“When you make the decision to neutralize and you reset the race, everybody gets a break,” Carpenter, who was a part of the breakaway, said. “And then it gets dangerous again, because everybody thinks they have a shot.”
Despite the delay, Gibbons finished strong to earn the victory. Winning the race was a dream come true for Gibbons, who along with Magner, is very familiar with the Classic City.
“Honestly, when I was putting my hands up, I was like ‘You’re an idiot. You’re about to wake up in your bed. This isn’t real,’” Gibbons said. “This is the only bike race in America that I care to win.”
Gibbsons’ roommate and teammate, Davey Dawson, knew how special this moment was to Gibbons, as a massive embrace after the race brought heartwarming smiles to everyone in attendance.
“He’s basically a local resident here,” Dawson said. “This is the one race, of all the races, that he hasn’t won that he’s wanted to win.”
It was not only the winners who enjoyed competing in Athens, as many other riders traveled great lengths to experience the atmosphere of the Athens Twilight Criterium. Goldman Sachs’ Paola Muñoz, who made the trip from Chile, said that they loved the experience and noted how fun and friendly the race was.
However, for Magner and Gibbons, earning gold in a city they both cherish is a moment they will never forget.
“Every time I come to Athens, it feels like coming home,” Gibbons said.