Brutal introduction to Criterium Racing......

.......After essentially dominating road races on the northern California racing circuit this past year, Chico's own Category 2 Studette, Janeen Thorpe(riding for Touchstone Climbing), decided to give criterium racing a shot - and from what I understand, Sunday's Nevada City Classic was her first crit-like race. I say crit-like because it's more like a hilly circuit race than a criterium......but the Refs there assured me it was, in fact, a criterium.......or as close to one as you could get in the hills of Nevada City. Your first criterium race is.......Nevada City. Holy. That's some toughness going through the veins of this woman. Can't even imagine - but hey, she did good out there. The lead pack just hammered when Shelley took off for the win. But Janeen rode her own race - stayed focused - rode the tempo - and had a very respectable finish. Although it wasn't a win this time around, I have a feeling we'll be seeing her on the podium at Nevada City in the years to come. Way to go Janeen!