It was an epic day for a bike race. The temps were perfect and the wind was tolerable until at least the climb up the Beeline Highway.
Richard DeBernardis, Founder & Executive Director of El Tour de Phoenix, announced that this year’s event, dedicated to Mesa resident Sterling Baer, welcomed 1,400 registrants – beating the 2008 attendance record of 1,308. In addition, moderate temperature and wind conditions helped cyclists in four divisions set new course records – the women’s and the mixed tandem divisions of the 72-mile event as well as the men’s and the women’s divisions of the 26-mile event.
Clay Murfet of Youngtown, Tazmania nipped Mesa resident Joe Susco for the 72-mile men’s title, with both times being listed as 2:51:28. Chris Fusselman of Phoenix rounded out the podium in a time of 2:51:30.
Pro-cyclist, Erica Allar from Charlotte, NC, claimed the women’s 72-mile title for the third year in a row in a time of 2:52:42. Finishing tenth overall, Allar broke her own 2009 course record by five minutes and 2 seconds. Mildred Lopez of Calexico, CA earned second place with a time of 2:58:15 and Heidi Melendez of Chandler came in third with a time of 3:01:09.
Team Focus managed to place five riders in the Platinum division, with Mark Bibbey and Matthew Braselton breaking the three hour mark with a time of 2:58:10 and 2:59:03 respectively. Jim Haugen finished in 3:01:07, Allen Blackhurst and Michael Barbour with a time of 3:01:25, and Mike Hershauer rounded out the group in 3:09:30.
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