She would have loved her husband to retain his IBC Front Street title but Deanna Thomson will enjoy the bragging rights in her household for the time being.

While she pedalled to victory among the women in yesterday?s one-hour city criterium, her spouse, Garth, was edged into second place by recently-retired pro cyclist Kris Hedges in the men?s top flight (Category Two).

Though the race came down to half-a-bike length, the latter ? still a class act in the saddle ? clearly had control of the situation as he crossed the finish just ahead of last year?s champion. Jamie Brown took third and Kent Richardson fourth.

Moments later Deanna ensured there would be reason for champagne in the Thomson clan, beating the more experienced Julia Hawley into second for the women?s crown.

?Absolutely!? declared a chuckling Deanna when asked if the victory would give her cycling ascendancy in her home.

Garth, who was within earshot, quipped ?Hey, hey!?

Deanna?s win also earned her the upper hand over sister, Kim McMullen, who placed third among the women.

Peter Dunne (Veterans), Grant Goudge (Men?s Category Three), Wayne Scott (Senior King of Speed), Ricky Sousa Jr (Junior King of Speed and Boys 15-16) and Sophie Adams (Girls 11-12) were among others celebrating success.

However, the interest was focused on the men?s Category Two battle as Hedges, Thomson and Kent Richardson made an early break only to be hauled back in by the likes of Scott, Brown and Sousa. The same trio broke again at about the half-hour stage and maintained their supremacy at the front until hard-pedalling Brown rejoined them with about seven minutes remaining.

Barely had the latter caught his breath when Hedges and Thomson began pushing the pace to decisively separate themselves from Richardson and Brown.

Side by side, the defending champion and Hedges wound their way around Burnaby Hill, along Reid Street, down Court Street and back onto Front Street ? neither budging or relinquishing quarter.

Finally, the bell tolled and with everything on the line, they fought furiously to the line ? a calm Hedges prevailing.

Modestly, he credited his Winners Edge team for supporting his effort though initially the plan was to ?try and set it up for some other guys?.

?In the end I had to take care of it,? surmised the 25-year-old now based back in Bermuda. ?We put on a good display and showed what team racing is all about.?

He admitted feeling comfortable and confident when the race narrowed to a two-man tussle, though he was unsure if Thomson was ?hiding his sprint from me or if he didn?t have one?.

The neck-and-neck outcome, he noted, made the event all the more riveting for spectators.

Still looking a cut above his rivals, Hedges revealed that though he has stepped down from the sport?s top tier he still intends to make his presence felt at the Caribbean Championships and in the Small Island Games later this year while also flexing his triathlon muscle.

Thomson termed the race ?a good one? in which ?the pace was hot from the start?. Though not one who likes losing, the 35-year-old put things in perspective.

?If you?re going to get down to two laps with Kris Hedges, that?s not a bad thing, so I feel pretty good.

?You always like to win but when you?re racing against Kris you?re probably racing for second. I don?t have those young legs. Hopefully, I?ve learnt something for next time.?

Deanna, 32, was thrilled with the result of her first Front Street effort.

?It?s a good win. It went really well. I was extremely nervous beforehand because I hadn?t done this course before and I don?t like crits (the criterium),? she said, adding that her main goal this season is to compete at the Small Island Games.

Meanwhile, feeding off the main pack proved, as he predicted, the winning formula for repeat Veterans champion Peter Dunne who ? despite mechanical challenges ? held off arch rival Vic Ball.

?I had a couple mechanical issues but it worked out really well. As I said before, for me, the key was to start at the front of the race and be with the fastest guys. I was lucky early on to get into a break with Garth, Wayne Scott, Jamie Brown and some others. Being at the front gives you such an advantage over the rest of the field.

?Though my chain came off and I lost contact with them (front riders) I caught back up with Wayne and having somebody else to ride with got me through. It was great,? said the 42-year-old regaining composure.

Ball, 56, was pleased to recover from a crash on Reid Street and capture the runner-up spot.

?I feel good about my race. Peter rode well. He got involved in an early break and held it,? said the seasoned cyclist who was hoping to dedicate a victory to his late father Calvin (Teapot) Ball who was buried on Saturday.

Scott, who placed fifth in the criterium, took comfort in his King of Speed success.

?That?s more my speed now. A ten-second race ? that?s about the fitness I have,? chuckled the 38-year-old, adding that he has not yet decided if to defend his Sinclair Packwood Memorial title on May 24, having triumphed on his debut last year.

?If I stop now I?ll have the best record of anyone ever ? one for one.?

By contrast, double winner and emerging talent, Sousa, immediately announced lofty ambitions.

?Today was just a test for May 24. I wanted to see if I could hang with the older guys because I really want to win May 24.

?Now I see what I?ve done today I know I need a little bit more training but I?m sure I can hang with those guys,? said the 14-year-old who wrested the Boys? 15-16 honours and the Junior King of Speed title.