Dispatch from the Dirty South 

Every corner of America has its own claim to fame when it comes to criterium racing. There's always one event that defines the culture of the area--and not just in terms of cycling. For the south, it's Athens Twilight. If you tell anyone in Athens that you ride bikes, they always ask, "Have you ever done Twilight?" It's such an important event to the town that people who haven't ridden a bike since they were a kid can tell you a memory they made along the barriers, cheering on racers as they careen through corners and storm up the downtown streets. It's just that special, and it has been for over 40 years.