The Red and Black

University students, Athens residents and cyclists from around the world all seemed have the same thing to say about the 19th annual Twilight Festival - it was a lot of fun, and the crowd was great.

After finishing in the top 20 of the Women's Criterium, Patty Shoaf of Durham, N.C., was breathless with excitement.

"It was a lot of dad-gumb fun," she said. "There's so many people - it's great."

Roberto Gaggioli took the men's criterium on a disqualification after officials ruled Gord Fraser grabbed the shirt of another rider. Jennifer Evans won the women's criterium.

Thousands of spectators - including many who don't consider themselves cycling fans - lined the streets and sat outside bars and restaurants Saturday to watch the cyclists whiz by.

"Our husbands like the bicycle races, and we like to talk," Athens resident Debbie Terry said, referring to her family and friends surrounding her at the Rocky's Pizza beer garden.

Downtown businesses seemed pleased by the crowd, with spectators filling restaurants and bars along College Avenue and Clayton and Washington streets.

Jennifer Shola, a sophomore from Snellville who works at Local Color on Clayton Street, said she took in "a good $1,000" more than on a normal Saturday.

Carrie Shankle, owner of Philly Connection on Clayton Street, said the festival brought in a lot more business.

"We did about double what we usually do," she said.

But at least one business on Broad Street wasn't as pleased. Rod Pharr, manager of The Taco Stand, said business from the festival has gone down every year.

"Everything is happening right there on College (Avenue)," Pharr said. "It's still better than most Saturdays, but it's not what it used to be."

LaRue Manus, an assistant referee and former participant in the criterium, said the race is one of the best races on the East Coast.

"Athens is a really old and traditional race: It's flat, it's fast and it's at night," he said. "I've raced this course four or five times. It's just a great race - I don't know how else to describe it. Even if you're hanging on for dear life, you've got 25,000 people telling you to go."

The Athens course is considered to be one of the best in the country.

"This course is an outstanding course," said Doug Gerry, chief referee for the evening races. "If you say 'Twilight' to anyone on the circuit, they know where it is."

– Staff writer Andrew DeMillo contributed to this story.

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