It was an eventful weekend for Fairview High graduate Mara Abbott.

In the span of two days, the bright-eyed, 22-year-old professional cyclist won a pair of local races, Saturday's Boulder Roubaix and Sunday's North Boulder Park Criterium, and found out that her team Columbia manager had picked her to start September's Giro della Toscana, a stage race in Italy.

The pair of podium performances plus the unexpected good news were welcome relief for Abbott, who admits her first full year in the pro ranks has been an extended -- and sometimes painful -- learning experience.

"To get a contract with one of the world's best teams was awesome," said Abbott, who won the 2007 U.S. national road race title but has had only a smattering of notable results this season. "But being on Columbia has forced me to really step it up a level. It's kind of like taking a class in college that is way too advanced for you. I've learned a lot, but it's also been very challenging. Basically it's my first job out of college, and that's a scary time no matter what your profession is."

On Sunday, fearlessness replaced fear, as Abbott single-handedly pulled back a dangerous early-race breakaway, then took off on her own to grab a convincing solo win in the hour-long affair that was once the traditional finale of the Coors Classic.

The famed Boulder-based stage race shut it doors 20 years ago, but the North Boulder Park Criterium has lived on, providing pros and amateurs a chance to test themselves on the same circuit that once hosted cycling superstars such as Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault and Davis Phinney.

"To win here is definitely a big deal," said Jorge Espinoza, who captured the 75-minute men's pro race after sprinting away from breakaway partner Sean Sullivan on the final straightway of the technical, 0.7-mile, six-turn circuit that included stretches of Alpine and Dellwood avenues before finishing on 9th Street.

While Abbott's victory wasn't a surprise (despite her 2008 struggles she nearly made the U.S. Olympic team), Espinoza's was not expected. The 34-year-old member of the local Horizon Organic amateur cycling team has been racing since 1987, and was once a member of the U.S. national team. But today his primary charge is as a real estate developer and father of two daughters.

Add in the fact that several members of the of highly-regarded Toyota-United professional team (Sullivan among them) were in the field, and the outcome appeared to be a foregone conclusion.

"It seems like those guys always beat us when they come out to the local races," conceded Espinoza. "It's great to finally get the upper hand. Pretty much everyone on our team lives around here, and we had lots of friends and family come out to root us on."

After joining forces to grow a 15-second advantage over the chasing field, Espinoza and Sullivan rounded the race's final turn onto 9th Street together, then began the final mad dash to the finish.

"I'm not a good sprinter so I knew I had to get away from him," Espinoza explained. "I just gave it my all from a long way out and it worked out."

Abbott, who stuck around to watch the pro men race, was thinking the exact same thing about her weekend.

North Boulder Park Criterium

Pro Men

1. Jorge Espinoza, 2. Sean Sullivan, 3. Henk Vogels, 4. Colby Pearce, 5. Jonathan Baker.

Pro Women

1. Mara Abbott, 2. Melissa Barker, 3. Anne Lannan, 4. Terrie Clouse, 5. Megan Hottman.