University of Colorado Criterium Masters race March 11

CU broke with tradition and lined up the masters for the last race of the day. This made for an interesting race as a lot of P,1,2 racers doubled up for the day as everyone considered this first mass start collegiate race as a training race day. As usual for a spring afternoon in Colorado, the winds picked up and made the race harder than one would expect. Two crosswinds, a headwind and the lone tailwind was on the hill where everyone felt like superman and crushed the pace. So, attacks were rampant, breakaways didn't last and the field dwindled with each lap. Lee Middlekauf, Adam Asnes, Marcel vanGarderen, and Pete Lucke were the sole representatives in the field as most of the masters team lined up for the P,1,2 race so that they could be home in time for dinner with their family. The guys did all that they could to make a winning break, but as the race came down to the last 15 minutes the winning break went with no mix1ers present. No one was disappointed as everyone came away with an excellent workout and gauged their fitness in time to be ready for the "real" season to begin in another 3 weeks. Hats off to the Boulder Orthopedics team that came out in full force, executed a well thought out plan, and their protected rider hid for the entire race and then not only made the winning break with his one attack, but won the race too.