La Jolla Cycling : Alvis Breaks Loose for Victory; Berglund Outsprints Women

When bicyclist Norm Alvis broke from the pack with 11 laps to go in Sunday’s Bud Light La Jolla Grand Prix he also was breaking tradition of the race.

In the previous three years, as the finish drew near, cyclists broke away in packs. Never alone.

“It takes about 80 percent more effort to go by yourself,” said Alvis, because there’s nobody to draft.

Sunday, Alvis bolted away from the pack near the end of the 66-lap race that covered 40 miles with the intention of winning.

Though some breakaways are used to tire the opposition, Alvis reasoned it was his best strategy to win outright.

He did both.

Alan McCormack of Ireland, who had clung near Alvis for two laps before he made his break, faded and was eventually swallowed by the pack of 15 riders who had trailed the two for the first part of the race. The other riders could not get closer than eight seconds from Alvis until he slowed at the end to win by 25 yards. The race was watched by about 30,000.

Said Thurlow Rodgers, last year’s winner who finished fourth: “(Chasing Alvis) was very frustrating.

Alvis, 24, from Sacramento, won about $4,600, which will be divided among seven team members. Marianne Berglund, the women’s victor, won about $1,200. Berglund also won 11 primes, or cash laps, that totaled about $800.

Scott McKinley, Alvis’ teammate, finished second and won 13 primes for $1,450.

West German Roland Gunther, who exchanged pushes with McKinley through the final turn, finished third.

Alvis said Sunday’s victory was the biggest of his career, and it may help bolster his hopes of making the U.S. Olympic cycling team.

Berglund, a native of Shelleflea, Sweden, won the 20-mile women’s race. Berglund, who moved to San Diego four years ago, outsprinted Sally Zack and Jeannie Golay for a 15-yard victory.

Berglund also won the La Jolla race in 1986 when she skirted by Zack, who had collided with Rebecca Twigg on the final turn.

Zack and Sandy Meister followed Berglund Sunday.

For Berglund, 24, it was her third victory this year.

“Jeannie gave me the best leadout I’ve ever seen,” Berglund said of the teammates’ final sprint to the finish. “What we planned on doing was to be very aggressive. I did a lot of work in the beginning (when she won most of her primes); I wasn’t sure I’d be able at the end.”

Said Zack, 25, who didn’t have the help of a teammate on the final lap: “It was like a chess match. I was on her. My mistake was not jumping by Marianne before Marianne jumped.”

Berglund, who won the cycling world road championship in 1983, hopes to represent Sweden in the Seoul Olympics. In the 1984 Games, she finished 18th in the road racing event held at Mission Viejo.