Good Things Are Not for Rider Who Waits : Cycling: Farmer wins series title when Huber stops at finish line of Newport Beach race.

Chris Huber of Boulder, Colo., was a blur on the outside in the final sprint of the Du Pont cycling race Sunday in Newport Beach.

And as he edged toward the finish, the drama mounted. Huber, 28, was on the verge of winning the overall series title by placing in front of Coors Light teammate David Farmer.

Inches from the end, Huber did something so unusual that this race might be considered part theater of the absurd.

He stopped.

He waited for Farmer to catch him and finish one place ahead to take the overall championship in bicycling’s last event of 1990.

The circumstance illustrates the camaraderie of cycling. But some of the sincerity was lost when Huber said after the 57-mile criterium that the finish was predetermined instead of a spontaneous act of generosity.

Also disappointing was the absence of Greg LeMond, the three-time Tour de France winner, who said he decided three weeks ago not to compete Sunday because his season was long over. LeMond was the official race starter.

“I brought my bikes and racing gear,” he said. “But my team didn’t want me to race if I wasn’t in good enough shape. I rode two hours (Saturday) and knew I wasn’t ready. If I can’t finish the race, then why bother?”

Some other big-time U.S. cyclists who were listed as competitors felt the same.

Davis Phinney, a veteran of the Tour de France, stayed home in Boulder, Colo., to rest a sore wrist rather than risk competing this late in the season. Olympian Alexi Grewal also did not show.

Race promoters said they did not know until Sunday morning that LeMond would not compete, justifying the use of his name to promote the event.

They also did not know what the Coors Light team planned if Farmer and Huber were close at the end.

For Huber, it was a bittersweet experience, but he said he felt no remorse over waiting for Farmer.

“I felt Dave won the series in the last race when he was sick and still made a strong effort,” Huber said. “David was the leader going in to the final event. You have to ride for the leader.”

Huber said he was confused when he reached the finish as Farmer was shouting at him from behind. He was worried about losing second place, which he did.

Ron Kiefel of 7-Eleven won Sunday’s race and moved ahead of Huber into second overall. Huber finished third by placing 21st.

“A lot of teammates wouldn’t do that for you,” Farmer said. “I was feeling bad that I asked him to wait for me. I expected him to roll across the line.”

Earlier, it seemed such a finish would not happen when Farmer entered the mechanics’ pit after his gears malfunctioned.

A wheel change fixed the problem. Cyclists are allowed one free lap for mechanical failure, so Farmer did not lose any time.

With patience, he worked himself back to the front of the field.