Back home visiting this weekend, I went and watched the Giro di Grafton Twilight Criterium last night. Enjoyable, good racing. The field was a wee bit smaller than what I'm used to but it was a good time. I think we walked around most of the course and it was made even more enjoyable with a few bars right on route... :-)

It was 75 minutes plus 2 laps and started at 7:30. I am sorry to say I did not know or recognize the riders other than Chad Hartley from Jittery Joe's and Garrett Peltonen from Bissell. The remaining field I believe were all pros from WI/IL teams. They were great though and it was a fun night.

In typical crit fashion the pack stayed together for most of the race. There were a few laps were guys would get a few seconds off the front but not much more. With about 3 laps to go Garrett took off and had a nice gap going so that was fun with everyone cheering and wondering if he'd get caught. Josh Carter from ABD Gear Grinder (don't tell The Bird I missed this one when I first posted as it's associated with a local club right here by me in IL... oops!) came around him for the win. Garrett came in 2nd and Chad came in third.

Chad's 27th birthday was Friday and up on the podium he admitted to being out a little late the night before. Not too bad at all with 3rd so a Happy Birthday out to him. Garrett was having some fun up there as well and as the announcer said, had it been 3 1/2 laps instead of a final 4, he would've won.

My mom is now a huge fan of Chad's. I had wished him a happy birthday after the race and she just loved that he was all smiles and she loved how great the guys were with fans after they were done. Good stuff. I did not have my good camera last night and even if I did, I am in no way Sui Juris or Lyne so the photos are what they are but I hope you enjoy a couple. (I have a few others to post but have to run so I will add them later.)

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