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Cyclists Pedal Through Tampa For Inaugural Twilight Criterium

News Channel 8 photo by JIM FARQUHAR

The Twilight Criterium festival includes bike safety checks, helmet giveaways and a bicycle rodeo, among other things.

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By ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 21, 2009

The races were not for the easily winded.

Consider a bike sprint over 7/10 of a mile through downtown Tampa streets – over and over.

Sharon Smith did. A recreational bicyclist at 48, the Jacksonville resident entered Tampa's inaugural twilight criterium today at the urging of friends who raced frequently.

A criterium is no afternoon stroll. It runs over a course with fast turns over paved and brick roads, with Lykes Gaslight Square as a centerpiece. The pack of racers starts out dense. The winner is the first rider to finish without being lapped.

But the Tampa Downtown Partnership wanted to bring the amateur and the avid racer together.

Smith borrowed a racing jersey and spent the past week avoiding alcohol, warming up and stretching. At her request, she entered a race with men and women.

She won first place, and has the medal to show it.

Asked to explain her feat, Smith said, "I have no idea."

The races go on until 8 p.m. today and feature various skill levels. They have drawn racers from as near as Pinellas County and as far as Pennsylvania.

Race promoter Keri Burns said the pros were drawn to an unusual night race through city streets.

"But we wanted any kind of cyclist," Burns said.

The event also features a festival at the square until 5 p.m. It has helmet giveaways, instruction, bike safety checks and a bicycle rodeo.

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