Vitamin Cottage rider Beth Fisk continued her roll by winning both the pro-1-2 women's Dillon and Copper Mountain Criteriums on August 18 and 19. The criteriums were both held at elevations above 8,000 ft. In both women's events the elevation, pace and demanding courses took a dramatic toll on the field with many left behind early in each race. The lady VC's mixed things up with Fisk, Renee Eastman and Syrae Wiekle following numerous moves throughout both races. Fisk took the Saturday Dillon Criterium by sprinting ahead of a small group at the finish. On Sunday she soloed the last several laps to win the Copper Mountain Criterium which wound its way through the cobbled streets of the Copper Mountain Village. Renee Eastman took 8th for VC in both events.
In the men's events, the ageless Scott Moninger of team BMC took the Dillon Criterium win out of a thinned-down field. Vitamin Cottage rider Dirk Friel made another podium appearance by taking third and Joe Pinkerton continued to show he's the real-deal with a well-earned 5th place finish.
Apparently, the Vitamin Cottage boys did not take kindly to missing the win at Dillon as they came back the next day placing five riders in the top 10 and winning the race at Copper Mountain. After a series of relentless attacks, the days breakaway finally formed with Vitamin Cottage represented by Christian McCarthy and Dirk Friel along with Colby Pearce (USA Cycling), Scott Moninger (BMC) and former Motorola pro Keith Harper (Excel Sports). McCarthy took a narrow victory ahead of Moninger. Moninger credited Friel and the strong teamwork of the Vitamin Cottage duo as major factors in McCarthy's win. Friel ended up 5th, Jon Baker 6th, Jon Tarkington 8th and Joe Taddeucci 10th for VC.
See the Summit Daily News for an article .http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20070819/SPORTS/108190075
