After being upgraded to the Senior Women Pro 1-2 category, Durango native Emily Jordan strapped on her first official win in that category with a victory at the Ridge at 38 Criterium Colorado Senior Criterium Championships at Wheat Ridge on Sunday.
Her time of 50 minutes, 39.4 seconds narrowly bested second-place finisher Margot Clyne who crossed the finish with a time of 50:40.5.
“It was pretty surreal, I had two other teammates in race and the three of us made a break really early,” said Jordan, who rides for Thump Cycling p/b Denver Fit Loft.
Jordan was upgraded from the SW 3 to the SW Pro 1-2 category earlier this week after her victory at the Deer Trail Road Race in Denver last weekend where she won with a time of 2:04:07.
Coming into Sunday’s race, Jordan expressed that she was eager to get some new experience riding in the SW Pro 1-2.
“It was incredible and surreal to come out on top,” said Jordan. “It was a different pace than what I’ve been used to.”
The race began fast, with several different teams using racing dynamics that Jordan hadn’t witnessed at that level before, but her natural cycling skills let her adapt as quickly as the race started.
“From the beginning it was fast, aggressive and fun to see,” said Jordan. “People were trying to push racers from the get-go and it was something to get used to.”
The Colorado Senior Criterium Championships weren’t the only race Jordan competed in over the weekend. She also took fourth in the Guanella Pass Hill Climb at Georgetown with a time of 1:05:41.
Jordan and the rest of the pack climbed an 11-mile ride that saw a 3,000-foot incline at Guanella Pass. At the end of the race, all riders sat at a cool 11,700 feet. The gritty climb on Saturday surely helped Jordan’s win on Sunday.
“I was very happy for my first SW 1-2 race, it was a very challenging course,” said Jordan. “I was excited to throw myself in a race and finish strong. Eleven thousand feet adds a whole other factor at the race, it gets hard to breathe.”
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
