Cycling Roundup : Phinney Beats Hampsten for Biggest Career Victory

Davis Phinney posted the biggest victory of his career Sunday by winning the Coors International Bicycle race in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.

Phinney, 29, finished in 44 hours 53 minutes, 1:59 ahead of teammate Andrew Hampsten. Alex Stieda, 27, of Coquitlam, British Columbia, finished third, 2:32 back.

“I never would have expected it,” Phinney said. “Most of the things in my career I expected, but this was such a departure. This year, I’ve raced harder and better than I ever have in my life.”

Ron Kiefel, 28, of Boulder broke away with two laps left and claimed the 15th and final men’s stage, a 60-mile circuit, in 2:20:35.

Alan McCormack of Ireland, finished second in 2:21:16, and Phinney was third in 2:22:09.

Phinney, known throughout his career as a powerful sprinter, captured four stages.

Last April, Phinney’s cycling career almost ended. Competing in a one-day road race in Belgium, he crashed through the rear window of a support vehicle. He suffered leg and arm injuries and severe facial lacerations requiring nearly 150 stitches.

Despite the setback, Phinney resumed training on a stationary bicycle two days later in his hospital room. Within two weeks, he was racing again and has since transformed from a sprint specialist to an overall cyclist.

Phinney earned a new car valued at $30,000 for his victory, but his team opted to give the car to manager Jim Ochowicz.

In her fifth attempt, Inga Benedict, 25, of Reno, Nev., claimed the seven-stage, 265-mile women’s International in 11:14:31.

Benedict earned $3,500.

Katrin Tobin of Ketchum, Idaho, won the final race after Unni Larsen of Norway crashed on the final lap while holding the lead.

Kathi Riggert, 26, of Boulder, was second in 1:21:20, with Olympian Sally Zack, 26, also of Boulder, third in the same time.

The World Track Cycling Championships at Ghent, Belguim, opened Sunday with France’s Jeannie Longo dominating the 3-kilometer pursuit qualifying races, easily beating American Melinda Mayfield Gurtin in a time of 3 minutes, 47.66 seconds.

Swiss rider Barbara Ganz finished second, Finland’s Tea Vikstedt-Nyman was third and Mayfield Gurtin was fourth overall. They all qualified for Wednesday’s final.