Rosola Overcomes the Rain and Kiefel to Win His Fourth Stage of Cycle Race

Paolo Rosola of Italy overcame a chilling rain and Olympian Ron Kiefel of the United States to win the 106-mile Morgul-Bismarck bicycle road race Saturday in the Coors International.

The victory was Rosola’s fourth in the 20-day competition, which concludes today.

Kiefel, from nearby Wheatridge, broke away with 400 yards to go, but Rosola overcame him on the steep uphill climb to the finish line. Rosola’s teammate, Roberto Pagnin, also passed Kiefel to finish second, but Kiefel held on for third.

Over a wet, treacherous course, Rosola won in 4 hours 16 minutes.

In the women’s 53-mile race, Olympic silver medalist Rebecca Twigg-Whitehead of South Pasadena was the winner in 2 hours 17 minutes. Overall leader Jeannie Longo of France was fourth, 40 seconds behind the winner.