Sunday’s 45th annual Tour de Los Alamos is said to be one of the oldest bike races in the state. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Waiting. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
The first wave of riders as they head down the hill into White Rock. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
KRSN Sports
One of the top cyclists in the history of the Tour de Los Alamos came through once again Sunday.
Fortunato Ferrara, who rides for RA Racing Apparel/BMC, earned a narrow, hard-fought victory in the Tour Sunday. Ferrara held off Cormac McGeough for this year’s title. He won by a grand total of 12 seconds over an 81-mile course.
The Tour de LA had its 45th running Sunday. The course for the event, which bills itself as the oldest race of its kind in the southwestern part of the country, goes from Los Alamos to White Rock via the Back Gate, down N.M. 4 and back up the Truck Route – a 27-mile lap in all.
Ferrara and the other elite cyclists taking part in this year’s event did three full laps.
Ferrara has been at or near the top of the men’s elite race for several years and, except for McGeough, had a decisive showing against the rest of the field. Besides the runner-up, no other race finished within 8 minutes of Ferrara’s finish time of 3 hours, 29 minutes, 19 seconds.
Bryan Reid, who also rides for RA Racing Apparel/BMC, finished third overall in the men’s pro 1/2/3 category.
In the other contests Sunday, Quinn Abfalterer had one of the best showings of the day. Abfalterer finished two laps of the Tour in 2 hours, 31 minutes 7 seconds, averaging better than 21 miles per hour throughout the licensed men, category 5.
Dan Armijo, an unattached rider, nipped Eugene Dougherty of High Desert Bicycles for the win in the master men’s race by 3 seconds. Armijo had a time of 2:34:42.
In the top women’s category, Mindy Caruso was the winner of the 45th Tour de Los Alamos. Caruso had a dominant performance in her race, clocking a 2:45:00 for two laps – averaging better than 19.5 miles an hour – and topped runner-up Gretchen Selby by more than 11-1/2 minutes.
Elisa Woody won the women’s category 4 competition (1:25:38), topping Amanda McGeady by nearly 8 minutes over 27 miles.
Tour Chair Cyndi Wells briefs the large presence of Los Alamos police who ensured the safety of the riders. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
The race is underway with a parade to the start/finish line at LANL. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Cruising along N.M. 4 in White Rock. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Wow, this is actually fun as riders transition in White Rock. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
No time to enjoy the scenery. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
The completion is fast and serious. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
There was a lot of preparation going on in the parking lots around the Pond. Here Matt Desmond of RA Racing Apparel/BMC checks tire pressure before the start. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Some of the fans who came to watch and support the racers. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Thank you to the many volunteers, for without then an event of this kind would be impossible. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com