In 2006, Aaron’s/L5Flyers claimed three (3) Georgia State Championship jerseys. For 2007, the team repeated with three (3) more, including the Category 3 Road Race, Category 4 Road Race, and the Junior Criterium.
The Georgia State Championships were held in Union City, Georgia on June 3-4. Going into the race Aaron’s/L5Flyers knew it had a good shot at defending its jerseys, but the competition would be stiff as all the teams want to wear the championship jersey for the season and proudly proclaim that they are the champions.
The juniors (under 18) team started things off right in the Saturday Criterium. After a tough race, it was Aaron’s/L5Flyers racer Nick Savadelis taking the sprint finish for the first 2007 State Championship!
The Category 3 men fielded a strong team of eight (8) racers and after finishing an agonizing second (2nd) in the criterium on Saturday, were looking to take the next step to the top of the podium. The plan was simple: get the strongest riders into breakaways and work to keep the field under control. The long 75 mile undulating course did not deter attacks and after the first 20 miles has passed, Aaron’s/L5Flyers racer Ty Tagami finally instigated a break that stayed away from the field. Ty and his breakaway companions stayed away for 50 miles, until the remnants of the field caught his group with just a few miles to go.
Aaron’s/L5Flyers racer Cody Hall, who was able to sit in and rest while Ty was in the break, attacked during the final kilometer opening up a gap on the field and secured the State Championship again for the Aaron’s Cycling Team!
For the Category 4 team, there were some question marks coming into the race, as Brandon Tai, who has dominated the early season, was unable to race in the State Championship. Even so, the team had multiple options to win. A mid-race crash took down two of the team’s top chances for the jersey, but at the same time allowed a group of three riders to slip off the front of the field. One of those three was Aaron’s/L5Flyers breakaway specialist, Graham Swift. Graham drove the breakaway for the remainder of the race and the three were able to hold off the field until the end. In the sprint, Graham was clearly the strongest of the three and easily won Aaron’s/L5Flyers third State Championship jersey of the season!
For the second year in a row, Aaron’s L5Flyers won more Georgia State Championships than any other amateur cycling team. Aaron’s/L5Flyers has been on a tear this year with already 22 victories and 39 podiums through the first of June alone!
As always, Aaron’s/L5Flyers thanks all of our sponsors. The success we have had over the years would not be possible without your support. Look for more exciting updates from the Aaron’s/L5Flyers Cycling Team soon!
