Nice news this morning to read that Mike Sayers of Sacramento, the elderstatesman of the domestic pro peloton, won the Reno Criterium on Saturday night.

Sayers, 37, nearly retired last season. But he was persuaded to ride for BMC this year as both a team leader and mentor to young teammates.

It hasn't been the best of seasons. Sayers crashed hard in a January training ride in weird mishap with a beaver on the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. And then there were crashes in the Tour of California and Tour de Georga, both of which led to DNFs.

Sayers spent the month of May at home. But as described in a VeloNews.com account, Sayers outsmarted a lesser-experienced rider, took a a late-sprint chance and won his first race since 2005 in the Reno event, a twilight downtown criterium.

I can't say I know Mike well, but he's a rider you can't help but like. I heard and saw him cry at the Sacramento press conference at the Tour of California when he spoke about his career and what w
ill likely be his last season. And I saw him sternly talk like a big brother to younger teammates later in the same race after some poor team strategy.

And every time I've spoken with Mike on or off th record, he seems like the kind of guy you'd like to have as a neighbor and friend.

So, Mike, good on you for your win last weekend in Reno. You're in your 13th year as a pro. You're balancing a marriage, the responsibilities of being a father for the first time, a career and mentoring young teammates.

There's so much bad in sport right now, but bravo to you, sir. Your victory provided a figurative sliver of light in the ominous dark clouds of the sport.

(To read the article on Mike Sayers I wrote earlier this year, visit: Mike Sayers profile.)