The Junior Women of Fulton Flyers Devo put up outstanding results today at the USA Cycling Jr National Road Championships.  Annalise Oestreich sprinted with the front group to 5th place in Women 10-12, followed by team mate Sophia Broadwell in 10th.  In Women 13-14,  Salma Huque and Diana Ramos took it to the line for 16th and 22nd, respectively.

In Men 10-12 Alex Poma raced to 30th in his first national level competition.

Three "Devo Flyers" raced Men 13-14, with Brody Hartley 8th, Nick Oestreich 31st and Mikey Waine 46th.

Congratulations to all of our fine young riders!  Tomorrow they all get to race the Time Trial, which will also serve as the Georgia State Time Trial - look for more results of TT and Criteriums in coming days.

While the non-climbers stay tucked tight in silk sheets in the flatlands to the south, the truly brave souls prepared themselves for a test not only against competitors, but themselves.  Requiring strength of heart for the near continuous 8 miles of climbing to top Burnt Mtn, as well as for the 5 miles of all out desent that followed (with speeds touching over 50mph!), this was not a race for those of heft.

Such men as George Darden and Sam Morgan, with size in both stature and power-to-weight dared to come forth, and were rewarded appropriately as it is with courses described as "extreme" by both promoter and all that competed.  In the end, Sam showed a clean pair of wheels at the top of the mountain, though the pursuit behind was full bore (as fellow Flyer Lamar Mauney can testify, as he descended at 50 mph with those that would fail in their attempt to catch Sam), to take his second consecutive win - his dominance is rewarded with the almighty upgrade (a method used to thwart the successful from continuing to romp adversaries).

Similar was the fate of Big George Darden, as he proudly bore the colors of Georgia State Champion in the bright sunshine that flooded Burnt Mountain, beaten back to third place only by riders that were still suckling at the motherly breast as he entered young adulthood (though many tangents could be taken here, the author will resist).  He too was quickly served up with the upgrade, now forced to show his talents against not only the young but the strong (i.e., he is now Cat 2!).

Left behind on the road was young Erik Olson, another Flyer poised for a great finish, the victim of an act of shear stupidity on the part of young man racing in the colors of a furniture leasing company that will remain not named.  Both Lamar Mauney (45+...ultimately 4th) and Steven Tarry  (9th Cat 4) were witness to the aftermath of the incident, and both swore to themselves that revenge would be swift (if they could only catch the assailant!).

Fortunately, a photographer happened by after the event, and was able to capture visual evidence of the youthfulness of George's competitors, as shown in the photo above - of course, George is the very cheerful person on the left, who is under his breath whispering ever so softly "wait until next race...".