International Bicycle Race : Mexico’s Alcala Wins 16th Stage, Takes Overall Lead

Raul Alcala became the men’s leader in the Coors International bicycle race Thursday, taking the honor from 7-Eleven teammate Jeff Pierce in the Golden-to-Estes Park road race.

In the women’s division, Jeannie Longo of France held her commanding lead by finishing first in the women’s seventh stage, the Estes Park circuit race.

Alcala, of Monterrey, Mexico, completed the grueling 74-mile mountainous course in 3 hours 30 minutes 18 seconds to reclaim the leader’s red jersey that had belonged to Pierce for 11 days.

Alexi Grewal of Boulder, Colo., and the Schwinn-Icy Hot team was second in the 16th stage, 2:21 behind Alcala.

Alcala entered the stage in second place overall, 4:33 behind Pierce, who enters today’s Denver Tivoli criterium 2:47 behind Alcala.

Andy Hampsten of Boulder, Colo., and 7-Eleven remained third in the overall standings.

On one downhill stretch, Alcala said he waved his arms to his teammates “trying to get Andy, Pierce or someone to come with me, but Alexi kept attacking at that point and I had to keep with him.”