The course is only 12.5 miles (4.4 flat then abruptly climbing 2000’ for the remaining 8.1 miles). Our field took the flat at a very mellow pace, then the _ _ _ _ hit the fan as we started the climb. In about 1 minute, the lead group was down to 6. After about 5 minutes, a solo rider accelerated away from our group. I was monitoring just one guy and felt if the escapee was a threat to the guy I was watching that he would quickly close up the gap. He did not seem bothered so we rode on as 5 as the escapee disappeared from sight. As the finish line drew near I realized our group had made a tactic mistake of letting the eventual winner leave our sight. Further I realized I made a tactic mistake by letting one guy determine the outcome of my race. I was feeling strong and could have ridden harder than I did BUT, was confident we would all come back as one group and did not put in the effort to bridge to the solo rider. Mistake two, timing my sprint too late and ending up 3rd in a 5 man sprint for 2nd place. The math works out to me getting 4th overall. This was a live and learn experience that really should not have transpired