Hinault Takes Lead Over LeMond by Winning Time Trial on Vail Pass

Bernard Hinault of France took the lead in the Coors International bicycle race Sunday by winning a 10-mile time trial over Vail Pass, with teammate Greg LeMond close behind.

In last month’s Tour de France, LeMond overtook Hinault in the latter stages and become the first American to win the race.

LeMond finished about 50 seconds behind Hinault, but it was enough to pull himself up two places into second place overall.

Hinault’s time in the ninth stage of the race was 26 minutes 56.40 seconds. LeMond, of Reno, finished in 27:46.88. Third place went to Jean-Francois Bernard of France in 27:47.28. All three are members of the Red Zinger team, which took an unbeatable lead in the standings.

Hinault’s total lead over LeMond is 1 minute 3 seconds. Jeff Pierce of San Diego is third, 1:21 back, followed by Moreno Argentin of Italy, 1:23 back, and Bruno Cornillet of France, 1:38 back.

Inga Benedict of Reno won the women’s time trial, but defending champion Jeannie Longo of France maintained her overall lead.

Many of the women have all but conceded the overall title to Longo, who finished third in Sunday’s time trial, or to Maria Canins of Italy. Canins was sixth in the time trial and third overall.

“Canins and Longo are the two best in the world,” Benedict said. “Quite a few American women are riding strong, but Canins and Longo have the experience. They’ve been training better than the Americans.”

Benedict’s winning time was 31 minutes 30.72 seconds. Susan Ehlers of Richardson, Tex., was second in 31:46.07, while Longo was timed in 32:21.33. Jane Marshall of Albuquerque, N.M., was fourth in 32:38.46, and Alla Iakovlova of the Soviet Union was fifth in 33:10.14.

Benedict moved into second place overall, 1:15 behind Longo. Canins was 2:08 back, followed by Ehlers, 2:27 behind, and Marshall, 3:34 back.