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BISBEE — With his Navigators Insurance teammates busy racing in Germany, Tucson’s Phil Zajicek lost his overall lead Saturday morning in the team-friendly sprint bonus zones, only to reclaim the yellow jersey in the afternoon time trial.
Zajicek took a three-second lead into Saturday morning’s road race only to see it evaporate thanks to 35 sprint zone bonus points earned by Joey Thompson, Daniel Vaillancourt, Mike Telega and Shane Peltonen, who were just four among seven racers to pass Zajicek in the overall.
But in the Warren Time Trial run from Warren Ballpark to the Bisbee Airport, Zajicek reasserted control, riding to a stage-best time of 14:31, 14 seconds better than El Tour de Tucson champion Curtis Gunn.
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Zajicek wears the yellow jersey for today’s Tombstone Road Race, leading Jeremy Powers of Jelly Belly Cycling by 25 seconds and Gunn by 28. Gunn’s teammate and former La Vuelta champion Drew Miller sits within striking distance 48 seconds back, tied with California Giant’s Kevin Rowe, who moved from ninth overall to fifth with his performance in the time trial.
“It’s tough because I’m here alone, so I can’t really take too much responsibility in races,” Zajicek said. “I should have enough of a buffer that I don’t need to win (today’s) stage. I’d like to see my friend Jeremy (Powers, standing to his left) take it.”
Zajicek, who is in his fourth La Vuelta appearance, said he wasn’t too discouraged by the hit he took in the road race, a stage won by Rocky Mountain Chocolate’s Joey Thompson.
“That was some good, aggressive racing,” Zajicek said. “I wasn’t too concerned. I knew I had the time trial coming up.”
This year’s time trial was shortened by a mile and a half because of ongoing construction in front of City Hall. From Gunn, who said the last leg of the trial heading past the Ballpark had been too bumpy for good competition, anyway, and Zajicek, there were no complaints.
“The shorter course suits me just fine,” Zajicek said.
Zajicek feels the extreme climbing that defines the end of the final stage should make it easier for a lone wolf such as himself pull away from the team elements.
“It’s tough when you’re going against guys with five teammates, but that final climb is such a tough, selective climb…” he said.
Zajicek said he’s up for the sprint zones — and for good reason. As a 16-year-old in the 1996 La Vuelta de Bisbee — the last La Vuelta to hold the criterium, Zajicek won the Category 3 sprintthrough the streets of Old Bisbee for cash.
Zajicek said he’d like to see the criterium return to Bisbee someday.
“I have good memories here from years ago,” Zajicek said. “(The criterium) was an awesome event, so good for the community and so much fun.”
Leonard Suarez wrote on May 1, 2007 9:15 PM: