International Bicycle Race : Hampsten Gets His First Stage Win, Leads Team to Top-3 Sweep

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Andy Hampsten came home to Colorado to lead a top-three sweep for his 7-Eleven team and capture his first-ever stage victory in Saturday’s 83-mile road race in the Coors International bicycle race.

It was the 11th stage of the men’s series since the classic began Aug. 5 in Hawaii.

Hampsten, of Boulder, Colo., broke away with teammates Jeff Pierce and Raul Alcala at the start of the second lap over the Colorado National Monument west of Grand Junction and cruised to a 5-minute, 10-second victory margin.

Although he has been one of the race’s strongest riders for several years, Hampsten had never won a stage. He had finished second four times and third three times.

Two of his close losses came in Grand Junction when he lost out on final sprints to finish second in 1984 and third in 1985.

“I’ve never won a stage and my teammates knew what it would mean to me,” Hampsten said. “I’ve been so close so many times . . . they let me win the sprint.”

Pierce, the race leader, finished second and Alcala third.

Meanwhile, Jeannie Longo, the French champion riding for DuPont’s Team Lycra, opened an imposing lead three-minute in the first day of women’s competition--a 47-mile road race--in this year’s event.