bhilden@druxj.UUCP (HildenbrandBE) (07/17/84)
Here are the GC leaders after Sunday's races
Men Women
1. Doug Shapiro(USA) 5:37.02 H. Connie Carpenter(USA) 2:27.31
2. Alexi Grewal(USA) @2:15 Jeannie Longo(FRA) @0:19
3. Jeff Pierce(USA) @3:44 Maria Canins(ITA) @0:37
4. Fabio Parra(COL) @3:53 Unni Larsen(NOR) @2:09
5. Andrew Hampsten(USA) @3:54 Inga Thompson(USA) @2:13
6. Davis Phinney(USA) @6:01 Susan Ehlers(USA) @2:17
As you can see there is a big gap between the 1st five men and first
three women from the rest of the field. If it weren't for the events
on the last stage in 1983 I would predict the racing is over except
for these eight people. We will have to wait and see.
Several factors may shape the final outcome. First, there are
30,20,10 second time bonues for the first 3 finishers so Phinney
(if he sticks it out) may be able to do it. There are two real road
stages left -- Tuesday's Colorado National Monument(80+ mi) and
Friday's Morgul Bismark(93mi) but, as already stated there is a
good chance that many Olympic competitors will not finish.
Also, the Americans seem to be dominating however, notice that
with the exception of Grewal, the top USA dudes are non-Olympic
team members that excel in the mountains. Mind you that the
Olympic course is very different than the type of racing in the
Coors. My guess is that the other Olympic teams are 1) holding
back 2) don't have their best mountain men here.
Cindy Olivarri, a member of the Woman's Olympic team, has Mononucleosis
and will not compete at the Coors or the Olympics.
At this point I could go out on a limb and say the top 3 GC at the finish
in the men's event will be Shapiro, Hampsten and Pierce in that order
but, that might be a little bold(especially considering what happened
on the final stage last year).
Bruce Hildenbrand