Teams rule in men’s ‘A’; field up in women’s La Vuelta de Bisbee field

By Matt Hickman
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 - 11:18:53 pm MST

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Herald/Review

BISBEE — A year ago, Ivan Stevic of the Aerospace Engineering team dominated the race.

So dominant was the Serbian that when he utilized the cycling version of the rope-a-dope, using his yellow jersey as a decoy in the final state, in order to allow his Italian teammate Clemente Cavaliere to capture the stage and the overall title.

Don’t expect to see any one racer dominate the men’s professional field in this year’s 28th rendition of La Vuelta de Bisbee the way Stevic did a year ago. An absence of dominant riders should make for an intriguing competition between 10 well-represented teams.Stevic races for the Toyota-United Pro Cycling team and doesn’t figure to be racing in Bisbee anytime soon.

“I think winning here helped Stevic make a name for himself,” La Vuelta director Albert Hopper said. “I like to see no-name younger riders win the race. They’ve gotta start somewhere and this is a great opportunity for them.”

Defending women’s champion, Brooke Ourada, isn’t back to defend her title in the women’s pro race. Maatje Menassi, who finished second, and Cynthia Mommsen, who was third, are entered. Former national time trial champ Mari Holden representing T-Mobil, the team that has produced the last two women’s champions, is also one to watch.

The race begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday with the Mule Pass Time Trial. Riders will leave from a decline start in front of the Copper Queen Plaza and race the clock up Tombstone Canyon to the top of the Mule Pass tunnel.

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Leonard Suarez wrote on May 1, 2007 9:15 PM:

" Correction Sunnyside and Buena were Co- region champs in softball. A higher power rating does not determine the region champion. This was clarified by the region chair, Mike Bejarano of the Amphi Districit Leonard Suarez Asst Principal/Athletic Director Sunnyside High School "