TdG Inner Loop - Your mother told you there'd be days like these...

Heading up to Pinos Altos from Silver City. Western New Mexico University Logo on the Hill above where Matt's Dad used to live. Vernette Vergara is convinced those are double V's. Never argue with a woman.

Heading across the Mimbres Valley today you see Roberts Lake...if you glance away from the wheel in front of you, that is.

Canyon Wall view in the Valley.

Yesterday Beautiful Vernette (and Craig) got some time in the sun waiting to feed Jim and some of the GeriAtrix and Joe's Pro's guys.

The open road, that we raced on yesterday heading out to Mogollon.

Today's course - 7500 feet of climbing in 80 miles with 3 significant climb.

Clockwise loop starting/finishing in Fort Bayard (yellow dot.) In the last 10 miles you ride past the Santa Rita Mine. I'm suspicious that I acquired "Mine Flu" today.

Today was rough, rough, rough. The day started on an ominous note when the announcer called up the top 3 in our race. "In second place, Jamie Carney, multiple world track champion. In first place Michael Carter, multiple World Championship USA team member."

5 miles into the race we did a 6 mile climb. Our field splintered right of the back. I was able to ride with the 2nd group, including Bain, almost to the top having to ease off 1/2 mile from the top. That effort cost me later, I believe. Over the top, on the descent I was joined by Steve Betton and a couple of other riders. Michael Carter's teammate had flatted and had some problem with a wheel change so he came riding up behind us on the 2nd climb. For some reason he rode really moderately so we stayed with him for half of it. As he put the hammer down we split into 2 groups of 3, Steve and I were with a rider who had come off the Bain group and had really cracked (for the moment.) So far so good.

We descended the treacherous Sapillo descent to the Mimbres Valley and that's when I stopped feeling good. We picked up Steve's teammate who had come off his threesome so there were 4 of us for the 30 mile ride across the valley. It was all I could do to stay on. The first 15 miles is rolling uphill so that is generally hard for me. Then over the Continental Divide is 15 miles of rolling downhill where I usually push the pace. Still it was all I could do to stay on.

We started the last 25 miles, which includes about 10 miles of climbing and I knew I was in trouble. After about 2 miles of climbing I sat up, took my feed from Beautiful Vernette, and waited for the women's peleton to sit on. It was total headwind so I figured I could get a draft in the caravan. Uh huh. Couldn't keep the pace. 15 miles later with 2 1/2 mile climbs to go the women's grupetto came by and I could almost hold their pace, but nope.

Lots of cramping, lots of soul searching lots of coasting downhill at 18mph into a headwind later I rolled across the finish line in Fort Bayard absolutely cooked. I even turned down a dinner invitation!!! Now you know I was hurtin. Back in the hotel after a couple of FW's and a surprise Vanilla Frosty from Beautiful Vernette and I felt alot alot better. The Geriatrix guys called and we met for dinner - Prime Rib - and all's good for tomorrow!

Craig wants to know why all the young skinny guys who live at altitude show up to do his race at the Gila. Can't they find their own race? He felt he rode better than last year, yet resulted about the same. Kindly, the officials have reserved a spot for him right in the first few riders of tomorrow's time trial.

Stay tuned.