Corey Collier (Team Einstein’s) and Meshy Holt (Expresscopy.com) took top honors on Friday as the 29th La Vuelta de Bisbee got under way in southern Arizona.

Beautiful weather greeted the 240 riders starting the Mule Pass prologue, a 2.8-mile time trial along Main Street from the heart of Old Bisbee to the top of Mule Pass.

Collier was fastest among the elite men with a time of 9:56, besting David Solomon (Halcones) by 14 seconds. Third on the day was Michael Grabinger (Successful Living) at 16 seconds. Only 20 seconds seperate the top eight riders. The women’s field saw Holt finish in 12:09, putting seven seconds on Maria Monica (Touchstone Climbing), with Maatje Benassi (Excel Sports) 23 seconds back. In the master men’s race, D.J. Hernandez (CZ Racing) covered the course in 10:29, 19 seconds up on Scott Conover (HLHAP) with Eric Brownell (ECFA-Honeywell) third at 30 seconds. Saturday's events start with the Stage 1 Sulphur Springs Road Race, with the Warren Time trial in the afternoon.

La Vuelta de Bisbee
Mule Pass Prologue
Men
1. Corey Collier, Team Einstein's, 2.8mi in 9:56
2. David Salomon (Mex), Halcones, at 0:14
3. Michael Grabinger, Successful Living, at 0:16
4. Mark Aasmundstad, Rideclean, at 0:17
5. Mark Santurbane, Bob's Bicycle.com, at 0:19
5. Ben Kneller, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, same time
7. Phil Zajicek, Navigators Insurance, at 0:20
7. Jose Garcia Isabel (Mex), Tecos, s.t.
9. Hernan Munoz (Mex), Halcones, at 0:22
10. Daniel Ramsey, Successful Living, at 0:25

Women
1. Meshy Holt, Expresscopy.com, 2.8mi in 12:09
2. Maria Monica, Touchstone Climbing, at 0:07
3. Maatje Benassi, Excel Sports, at 0:23
4. Carol Hutton, Excel Sports, at 0:25
5. Heather Sborz, unattached, at 0:38
6. Melissa Mcwhirter, unattached, at 0:47
7. Melanie Meyers, Kenda-Titus MTB, at 0:51
8. Katherine Bertine, Sportbeans-NTTC, at 0:52
9. Carla Flores, Excel Sports, at 1:07
10. Amy Dombroski, Excel Sports, at 1:16

Masters
1. D.J. Fernandez, CZ Racing, 2.8mi in 10:29
2. Scott Conover, Hlhap, at 0:19
3. Eric Brownell, Ecfa-Honeywell, at 0:30
4. Douglas Loveday, Rideclean, at 0:32
5. Cody Hall, Bicycle Haus, at 0:54
6. Peter Brown, Team Rhino, at 0:58
7. Jason Mustonen, Hlhap, at 1:00
8. Chris Fusselman, Hlhap, at 1:01
9. Daniel Martin, Safeway-GA Communications, at 1:02
10. Thomas Faeh, Deft Racing, at 1:04

Complete results

Collier climbs to the top of Mule Pass

Photo: Mason Ibas