CYCLING RACE ACROSS AMERICA : Fourney Opens a Sizable Lead as Top Riders Enter Louisiana

Defending champion Bob Fourney of Denver began to pull away from the field in the Race Across America, extending his lead to 1 hour 24 minutes Friday as the race entered Louisiana.

Fourney, who is averaging 13.7 m.p.h. and 329 miles per day, led by 47 minutes after Thursday’s racing. According to race headquarters, Fourney reached Ruston, La., which is 2,115 miles into the 2,930-mile race, at 7:03 p.m. (PDT) Friday.

Gerry Tatray of Sydney, Australia, began Friday in third place, but caught second-place rider Rob Kish of Port Orange, Fla., at the Ruston checkpoint. Both riders passed the checkpoint at 8:27 p.m. (PDT).

Fourney, Kish and Tatray were the only riders who reached Ruston on Friday. Loren Godshall of Los Altos remained in fourth place, passing the final Texas checkpoint--in Marshall, Tex.--at 5:27 p.m. (PDT).

Cathy Ellis of Cambridge, Mass., remained in the lead of the women’s race, and was the only female rider to reach checkpoint No. 26 at Snyder, Tex., Friday. Ellis, who is averaging 10.2 m.p.h. and 245 miles per day, passed through Snyder at 6:56 p.m. (PDT).

Debbie Ann Breaud of Burleson, Tex., remained in second place behind Ellis, reaching Post, Tex., at 8:17 p.m (PDT).

The 10th annual race began in Irvine last Saturday, and will finish in Savannah, Ga., in approximately two days. Fourney won last year’s race in 8 days 11 hours 26 minutes.