CYCLING / TOUR DE TRUMP : Leaders Prepare for Steep Climb

While many of the leading riders were conserving energy for today’s steep climb, Ed Kaczmarczyk of Canada outsprinted Michel Lafis of Sweden to win the 11th stage of the Tour de Tump bicycle race Friday.

Kaczmarczyk won by four seconds, finishing the eight-lap, 49.7-mile stage through Central Park in 1 hour 43 minutes 41 seconds. He and Lafis broke away from the lead pack with two miles left.

Soviet amateur Vladislav Bobrik retained the overall lead, riding conservatively in a large pack that was 1:45 back of the winner. Also in that group was Tour de France winner Greg LeMond.

Bobrik, 19, competing in his first international stage race, faces his most difficult challenge today, when the 98 remaining riders from a starting field of 133 negotiate the 123.7-mile Catskill-to-Albany Road Race. The stage includes the steepest climb in the 1,107-mile event, a 1,500-foot, three-mile ascent to Devil’s Kitchen about 20 miles into the race.

“I know it’s the most difficult stage of the entire race,” Bobrik said via an interpreter. “All I can do to keep the lead is ride as hard as I can and stay out in front.”

Bobrik leads Mexico’s Raul Alcala by 1:27, Atle Kvalvsvoll of Norway by 2:10 and Ron Kiefel of Boulder, Colo., by 2:18.

Last year, when the Devil’s Kitchen stage was held on the second day of the race, several riders were forced to walk their bikes because of the severity of the course.