The solidarity of the open road punctuates most time trial races.
Riders cannot work with others because they are alone on the road.
Joelle Numainville, at least, could chase the shade of Mara Abbott.
Abbott had won the previous two parts of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic women’s omnium, easily taking Saturday’s Coca-Cola Road Race and Sunday’s Morehart Murphy Subaru Circuit Race.
A weekend sweep was not to be, though.
Abbott finished fourth in the time trial in 40 minutes, 34.4 seconds, while Numainville took first in 38:21.
“That was really hard. It was good because it was my first time trial of the year,” said Numainville, a Canadian Olympian. “It was quite long, too.”
The 13.7-mile course followed County Road 250 from 32nd Street nearly to where the road rejoins U.S. Highway 550 on Shalona Hill.
Mindy Caruso of Albuquerque was second in 38:38.5.
The victory couldn’t catch Numainville up to Abbott in the weekend omnium standings, though.
Abbott won it with 72 points after deciding to stick around for Monday’s time trial.
“It was just for fun to spend another day in Durango,” Abbott said of the time trial, which she registered for the night before and rode on a road bike.
Numainville finished second with 71, and CU-Boulder rider Samantha Lunsky took third with 70.
Lunsky also finished third in the time trial in 41:39.9, capping a weekend where she never finished lower than third in all three omnium events.
“Last year was my first year racing ever, so for me to just be in races with people like Mara and Joelle, it’s really inspiring,” Lunsky said. “For me it’s more about experience.”
Lunsky proved she belonged on the road with world-class athletes like Abbott and Numainville. She just wrapped up her collegiate racing season last month and will pick and choose her events for the summer.
The season is just beginning for Abbott and Numainville.
Abbott and Numainville will ride at the The Philadelphia International Cycling Classic in two weeks, a UCI Women’s Road World Cup event.
Numainville also has her sights set on the Canadian national championships July 25. She said her time in Durango was good training for those larger events later in the summer.
“It’s great for training. I also live (part-time) just up the road on 240, so I’m here for training,” Numainville said. “I will be back next year, for sure.”
Abbott isn’t planning on returning next year. That doesn’t mean she’ll be a stranger to Durango, however.
“I’ll be back,” she said. “Maybe not next year, but soon.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
