Mayor’s Cup Cycling at Carlsbad : Nitz Takes a Look, Then Takes Off to Win With Sprint

Harvey Nitz turned the corner on the final lap of the 30-mile Wheat Thins Mayor’s Cup criterium bicycle race Saturday, needing a burst of energy to survive the 100-meter sprint to the finish.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw the blue frame of Mark Whitehead’s Schwinn closing in on him, and suddenly, Nitz was pedaling harder.

“On the final turn, I looked over my shoulder and saw a blue bike on my tail,” said Nitz, 29, from Citrus Heights. “The only blue bike I know that goes that fast belongs to Mark Whitehead.

Said Whitehead: “With about 30 meters to go, I was right alongside of (Nitz) and I saw him look over at me. Right then, he came on with his second kick, and I was already giving it all I could.”

Nitz won the sprint and the 50-lap race through downtown Carlsbad, finishing in 1:04.23. Whitehead, from La Mirada, was second, and Max Sciandri of Italy was third in the field of 90.

In the main women’s event, Helle Sorensen of Denmark finished the 15-mile event in 35 minutes, 21 seconds. Betsy Davis of New Jersey was second, and Sandy Meister of North Carolina was third. They took 30 laps on the half-mile course.

Nitz and Whitehead have raced against one another for 10 years. Nitz, who finished behind Whitehead in the Wheat Thins series in Atlanta, said Saturday’s victory boosted his confidence.

“Lately, (Whitehead’s) been winning more often than me,” Nitz said. “It’s good to know that he’s not going to beat me every time.”

The circuit moves to Davis on Sept. 27, and will conclude with the finals in San Francisco Sept. 28. Nitz is seventh in the series, after racing in only three of the 13 events. He won the circuit’s race in Hollywood Friday.

Today, most of the same riders will compete in the Bud Light La Jolla Grand Prix through downtown La Jolla. Admission is free. The main men’s race will run along a six-tenths of a mile course for 50 miles. The women will cover the same course for 25 miles. Racing begins at noon.