Durango professional cyclist Carmen Small proved she had a pretty good reason to miss the 2015 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.
She finished second at the USA Cycling Professional Time Trial Championships on Saturday in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Small crossed the line in 42 minutes, 21.06 seconds, 13 seconds behind champion Kristin Armstrong Savola.
She was the defending champion in the time trial event and still will ride for the road race national championship at 9 a.m. Monday.
Her husband, Benjamin Sonntag, held down the fort in Durango with a fourth-place finish in the Iron Horse.
heraldsports@ durangoherald.com