*** Olympia Cyclist WinsTtitle Thanks To Residency ***

Wenatchee, Washington -- 05/16/2006
An Olympia cyclist won the overall Washington State
Omnium Stage Race Championships on Sunday after
placing seventh in the Malaga Road Race.

However, an asterisk may sit beside
Derik Archibald’s championship.

After two days and all three races, Boise-resident Matt
Weyen led the 41 other pro-class racers. One detail on
his registration form disqualified him from the championship
race from the start line: his residency.

“He won,” Archibald said. “But because these are the
Washington State championships and he’s not a
Washington resident he can’t win. I was No. 2.”

Archibald, 29, finished fourth in the time trial (19:54),
first in the downtown criterium and seventh in the Malaga
Road Race.

Andrew McDirmid, a certified public accountant from Spokane,
won the road race and finished the championships fourth overall.

“That’s not as well as I’d have liked,”
McDirmid said.

But it’s better than most accountants
this soon after tax season.

“His season doesn’t even begin until tax season is over,”
laughed Matt Hill, the runner-up in the Master’s I-II race.

Archibald was hoping for a top-five finish in the popular
Twilight Criterium’s featured event — the Pro 1-2 men’s race.

After 50 minutes of action, the Olympia rider charged into
the lead with two laps to go and held off Kenny Williams
by a length in the downtown Wenatchee race.

“I’m not the best sprinter,” Archibald said.
“I had to go exactly how I won the race.”

Archibald said he made his move early to win the $100 prime
(pronounced preem), for being in first place before the final two
laps. He said it’s rare to hold a lead after such an early sprint.

Primes made for compelling racing along the seven-block
course on Wenatchee and Orondo avenues and Columbia
and Kittitas streets. Riders charged to the front of the pack
to win cash and prizes before drifting back. Most of the
riders stayed in a tight pack to reduce wind resistance.

The main pack went by every 75-90 seconds,
often with a different rider in the lead.

Spectators packed the finish area at Centennial Park
and lined the streets to watch the riders speed past.
Others hung out in the barbecue tent and beer garden.

By the time the final race was over, dusk had settled and
the generator lights cast a glow over the streets and sidewalks.

Most spectators stuck around to watch Archibald collect
15 points for winning the pro race. He trailed Williams by
one point at 24-23 going into Sunday’s road race.

The 3 Men division preceded the last race and offered
its own excitement. Riders in 3 Men are one step below
the Pro 1-2s, but it was hard to tell the difference.

Seattle rider Robert Powell made his move on the final lap,
edging a pack of four to win the 3 Men race. Powell said he
tried to stay in the top 10 and use his strong sprint if an
opportunity presented itself.

“I’m mostly out here to have fun,”
Powell said.

ACC - PHOTOS - Wa Omnium Stage Race Championships 05-13-2006
http://www.phpbb88.com/genesbmx/viewtopic.php?t=208&mforum=genesbmx

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
All Things Northwest in BMX!
***** Gene`s BMX *****
http://www.genesbmx.com