Magen Long made short work of the women's feature race. Then Frank Pipp zipped 'em on the final lap to top the men's field.

The Arlington Classic Criterium on Saturday, Aug. 1, produced plenty of pedal power from start to finish, but the showcase events, the Men's and Women's Category 1-2-3 races, were where the action was.

In the women's race, which consisted of 45 minutes of racing, plus two laps of the .6-mile course just north of downtown Arlington Heights, IL, it was right down to the wire between two riders from Oklahoma. Yes, the Sooners were soonest in this one! The race had a total purse of $3,000.

Winning off of a great move on the final circuit of the eight-turn course was 18-year-old Magen Long of Oklahoma City. Her victorywas pretty much set up by 37-year-old Andrea Ratkovic of Norman, when she surged ahead on the final lap. But it was close with less than a bike length separating the two.

"We drove up here just for this one day and I didn't know who going to show up because of conflicting races," Long said, adding that once she learned the course, she could time her sprints for maximum results. "I won three preems, and after I won my first one, I knew I would probably win the race.

"On the back stretch of the last lap, she (Ratkovic) started working it up to a comfortable pace. She led me out and I was able to get around her."

Ratkovic, a national class runner and duathlete, has been receiving treatment for an achilles tendon injury in Milwaukee and came down to the Chicago area to race with some of the other top Wisconsin riders.

"I like to help Magen when I can," Ratkovic said. "I like to lead her out." Ratkovic has a 2:34 marathon on her resume at the 1995 Grandma's event in Dulutch, MN, and said running remains her true passion. In the meantime, she isn't doing too badly on her bike.

Third in the women's feature race was Shawn Heidgen of Elburn, IL. She was followed by Kelly Benjamin of Kansas City, MO, and Elizabeth Morris of Oklahoma City.

In the men's race, which had a purse of $5,000, Franp Pipp of Madsion, WI, led a concerted effort by Winfield, IL-based Athletes by Design to win the event, which included 60 minutes of racing followed by three laps.

Going into the last two laps, a breakaway had Pete Hanna and Todd Cornelius of Turin along with Pipp bunched together ahead of the rest of the riders. A few seconds back was Winfield's Mike Ebert, also of Athletes by Design. Pipp "sat up," slightly slowing the pace, and as Ebert caught the group and the final lap began, Pipp blasted off. By the second turn, it was his race to win.

"We (Athletes by Design) had decided that the strategy was to take it out from the gun, race aggresively, and if we could get someone out there solo (on the final lap), we would go for it," Pipp said.

"When Mike got through, I was able to sit up, and then I rolled through. We got a gap and when we got to that second turn, it was all or nothing."

Ebnert's move was pure team tactics. "I bridged up by myself, and as soon as I got there, instead of it being a one in three chance of winning, it became two in four," Ebert said. "He (Pipp) knew it was a calculated risk. (By being there) I was his safety net."

Rounding the final turn, about 200 meters from the finish line, Pipp was all by himself and even had time to straighten his jersey before raising his arms as he crossed the line. Hanna was second, Ebert third, Cornelius fourth and John Puffer, also of Athletes by Design was fifth.

The second annual Arlington Classic Criterium consisted of 14 events, starting at 7 a.m. and concluding around 4:30 p.m. Possible storms held off, making for dry pavement and safe riding.

A total of $20,000 in cash and merchandise was given out to riders in various classes throughout the day.

For more information, go to www.arlingtonbikerace.com.