Chris Eatough (Trek) blasted through the first few laps and took a big lead. Chloe Lanthier (Rocky Mtn), last year's women's winner, pulled out only four hours into it because of illness. Katie Lindquist, Begy and Monica Nelson were left to battle for the women's race. It was close until Katie started to pull away after dark.

I had hoped, with the sun and heat going down, my lap times would start to get faster — some of my fastest laps are usually right before dark. This time it didn't happen, I just got slower. I had no excuses after dark; I was using NiteRider's new prototype light. Using the technology from those European sports car blue headlights, this thing freaked people out when I caught up to them. I had people jumping out of the way like deer on a highway. I just didn't have the legs and that is a problem when one has to pedal for a day.