Tour of the Gila

It's a windy weekend down in Silver City, but we're holding up.

DAY 1 - Inner Loop Road Race.
This race starts with a 10 mile long Cat 3 climb, and I have never made it over the top with the lead peleton.  Same this year, but closest I've ever been - maybe 1/2k.  That 1/2k makes all the difference, though, as the peleton disappears on the ensuing descent.

Vince made it over, and ended up 24th with Eric Burris from DWC.  I hooked up with a group of 5, left them behind on the final climb, and came in 47th, about 28mins down.  Still, my fastest time for this course, 3hr23m.

DAY 2 - Tyrone Time Trial
Can you say windy?  As in ~40mph with gusts.  Very scary during warm-ups, but I felt comfortable on the course.  Stayed in the aero bars the whole time except the climbs, passing a lot of people who were having a hard time in the wind.  Again, my best time, 48:59 for 16.5mi, 34th.  Vince came in about a minute down.  Overall, Vince dropped 2 spots to 26th, I gained 3 to 44th.

DAY 3 - Downtown Criterium
15 laps of a 1.1mi course with a kicker hill on the backside and an uphill finishing drag.  I have never finished this crit before, always getting lapped and losing time.  Not this year, though!  Finished in the lead peleton - psyched!  Eric B top 20, Vince 20s back.  No change in GC.

One more day to go, 72mi 'Gila Monster' - always a fun time.