Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge

I photographed the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge for a Three of a Kind photo feature for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The races were the last stop for the USA Crits Speed Week which made stops in numerous cities in Georgia and South Carolina. The Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge was the ending event to kick off National Bike Month which lasts through May.

Junior category cyclists line up at the starting line for the first race of the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

 

Alexander Dijkema takes a hefty lead in the Junior 10-14 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Prithvi Gummandi (left) overtakes the lead from Alexander Dijkema in turn one of the Juniors 10-14 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Davis Branyon (center) and Toby Wakelin (right) try to manuever through the pack in the Juniors 10-14 race during the Sandy Spring Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Madeline Haney (554) pedals through the course in the Juniors 10-14 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Justin Bashe speeds through turn four of the Juniors 15-18 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Prithvi Gummandi (left) leads Alexander Dijkema in the Juniors 10-14 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Justin Bashe speeds through turn four of the Juniors 15-18 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Brody Hartley (center) pedals hard up the final hill of the Juniors 15-18 race to cross the finish line in third place during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Brody Hartley (left) pedals hard up the final hill of the Juniors 15-18 race to cross the finish line in third place during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Diana Ramos (center) lays her head on her steering wheel before the start of the Womens Category 3-4 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

 

Laura Andrews takes off from the starting line of the Womens Category 3-4 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

 

Elizabeth Lee (left) leads Skylar Schneider and the rest of the pack in the Women's Category 3-4 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Elizabeth Lee pedals up the final hill in the Women Category 3-4 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

 

Kimberly Nelson (left) and Diana Ramos lead the main pack of cyclists in the Women Category 3-4 race up the final hill during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Skylar Schneider (left) pedals hard past Debbie Prouty as the pair reaches the finish line of the Womens Category 3-4 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Nick Rogers leads Tim Young, Robert Loomis and the rest of the pack in the Mens Category 5 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.

 

Robert Loomis leads the pack through turns three and four in the Mens Category 5 race during the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Saturday, May 6, 2012. The race in Sandy Springs is the last stop of the seven day USA Crits Speed Week which traveled between Georgia and South Carolina.