Dillon Criterium

First race in Colorado (well not technically, but since moving out here) is officially under my belt. Today's race was in Dillon, which is near Breckenridge/Leadville/Frisco/etc. area. Elevation when we got to town was 9100 some feet. We continued to climb a few more hundred feet. My estimate is that we were racing right around 9300 feet. My friend Vera, who I met at Super Week, was gracious enough to give me a ride to the race today as well as a place to stay for the night in Denver. Super nice of her!!! Anyway, the race started at 2:00pm. Not sure on the exact numbers at the start, but I'd say between 30 and 40. 3 laps in, a huge lightning bolt struck so close that it immediately thundered. You midwesterners know what I'm talking about. So the next lap, the offical decides to stop the race. So we sat there, for about 10 minutes. I looked at my computer, and for those 3 laps, we had an average of 23.5mph. Ouch. The race eventually started again and they made it a 40min crit instead of a 50min crit. Here we go again, balls out for the next 40min. Vitamin Cottage and Rio Grande put the hurt on. Attacks and people off the front. The field whittled down to about 12 people. It was all I could do to hang on near the back of the field. I had to close a few gaps because people kept popping. Definitely think this was one of the hardest races I've done. Last lap came, had crappy position and a few lapped riders in front of me. Kind of sucked but my goal was just to finish. Came acrossed 10th place. I was pleased. We averaged 24.5mph. Painful, especially since I couldn't breathe. My lung still burn. Tomorrow's race is even further up the mountain, but only 15miles or so. It's at Copper Mountain. Should be a good time. Then it's time to start school, bummer! That's all for now...have a good weekend!
-A

P.S. Pictures are HERE.