The long road back led Kristin McGrath home.

Nearly two years ago, a collision with a truck tore up McGrath’s leg. But a stellar showing this weekend on home pavement brought her rebound full circle.

McGrath started fifth but was the first women’s pro rider to finish Monday’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic time trial, eventually claiming victory in the ride up East Animas Road (County Road 250)in 32 minutes, 8.04 seconds.

Adding the win to her runner-up finish to Boulder’s Mara Abbott in the road race and third-place result in the criterium, the Durango rider held off cycling legend Jeannie Longo of France for the omnium title, given to the rider with the best combined finishes from the road race, criterium and time trial. McGrath finished with 72 points, while Longo, the gold medalist in road racing at the 1996 Olympics, tallied 69. Tiffany Pezzulo was third with 66.

“A year ago, I was still in doctor’s offices and unable to race this weekend,” McGrath said. “So one year later, yeah, it’s pretty special to be able to make that recovery and come back to top form.”

A strong tailwind helped McGrath blow past a pack that included Abbott, who had a shot at claiming the omnium for herself with a victory but finished 10th. Her knowledge of the roads didn’t hurt things, either.

“It was a tailwind, so it was a super-fast day,” McGrath said. “I’m lucky that I know these roads. It was a very fast day. ... I’m glad we didn’t have to battle a headwind.

“(Beating Longo) was my goal on the day, because she’s an amazing time-trial champion no matter what her age is.”

Longo, who last participated in the Iron Horse in 2008, capped a solid weekend by finishing second in the time trial Monday.

She finished in 32:34.85, 26.81 seconds off McGrath’s pace.

Durango’s Carmen Small was third in 32:56.97.

At age 52, the French rider finished third in the road race and fourth in the criterium to earn second-place honors in the 2011 omnium.

“The start ... was rough, a little slow,” Longo said. “I did a really good part on the ... rolling hills in the middle.”

The veteran cyclist, whose seven appearances at the Olympics is tied for the most among female athletes in the Games’ modern history, said she tried to slow her pace as she approached Bakers Bridge and the final steep climb to the finish line at Granite Ranch, on the northern, upper section of County Road 250.

“But I had a hard time (at the end),” Longo said. “I exploded. I had nothing in my legs.”

She said three days of racing had taken their toll.

She won the Iron Horse Classic time trial in 2008 and finished a close second to Small in the criterium. But there was no road race in 2008, victim of a storm.

“I had to ... come back (to the Iron Horse) to beat the train,” said Longo, who beat the train and all but two pro women to Silverton.

For McGrath, after a hard road back to top cycling form, winning an event and the overall title in her hometown was special.

“That was my goal coming into this, and I’m just starting a huge block of stage racing,” she said.

“It’s my hometown, and the support has been amazing.”

heraldsports @durangoherald.com