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Zirbel, Ratkovic win Valley of Sun opener

By VeloNews Interactive
Published: Feb. 18, 2006

The 14th annual John Earley Memorial Valley of the Sun Stage Race got under way outside Phoenix on Friday, though the sun failed to make an appearance.

Despite windy, chilly and dry conditions, 930 riders turned out for the opening Buckeye Time Trial, a 12-mile race at Sun Valley Parkway, west of Phoenix.

Tom Zirbel (Priority Health Cycling) took the opener in 29:25. Curtis Gunn (Team Successful Living) was second at 33 seconds slower with defending champion Ryan Blickem (Targetraining) third at 39 seconds.

In the women's race, Andrea Ratkovic (B1 Rocks) took top honors with a fast time of 34:15. Only 23 seconds behind her was Gabriela Gonzalez-Ferrat (Hi-Tech Bikes) with Erin Mirabella (Bicycle John’s) third at 28 seconds back.

Saturday's Stage 2, the Trek Road Race, will cover 50 to 100 miles in Casa Grande. The Stage 3 finale on Sunday will be the Landis Cyclery Downtown Capital Criterium at Wesley Bolen Plaza in Phoenix.

Stage
Men
1. Tom Zirbel, Priority Health Cycling, 29:25
2. Curtis Gunn, Team Successful Living, at 0:33
3. Ryan Blickem, Targetraining, at 0:39
4. Clayton Barrows, Agisko-Dart-Cycling, at 0:48
5. Peter Andersen, Hi-Tech Bikes, at 0:49
6. Brian Sheedy, Priority Health Cycling, at 0:50
7. Austin King, Jittery Joe's, at 0:51
8. Jake Rubelt, AEG-Toshiba-Jetnet, at 1:24
9. David Harward, Porcupine-Specialized, at 1:26
10. Hugh Moran, AEG-Toshiba-Jetnet, at 1:26

Women
1. Andrea Ratkovic, B1 Rocks, 34:15
2. Gabriela Gonzalez-Ferrat, Hi-Tech Bikes, at 0:23
3. Erin Mirabella, Bicycle Johns, at 0:28
4. Anne Samplonius, Team Biovail, at 0:37
5. Jennifer Reither, Bicycle Johns, at 1:00
6. Betsy Galenti, America's Dairyland, at 1:07
7. Beth Allen, Team Joy Rides, at 1:25
8. Mara Abbott, Sports Garage, at 1:38
9. Alison Powers, Rio Grande-Sports, at 1:40
10. Carmen Small, Vitamin Cottage, at 1:40

Complete results