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Show Noaker, Harris ride to victory in Moab IP' f'R I 1 i f 'V J J J U! Tom Noaker and Madonna Harris, two of Park City's premier cyclists, opened their season on a high note last weekend with victories in the prestigious Moab Stage Race. The Moab event, which annually annual-ly attracts more cyclists than any other bike race in Utah (more than 100 this year), proved to be hospitable turf for the Park City pair. Noaker claimed the Veteran men's (age 35-44) title while Harris won the women's title. Each fashioned victories in the time trials and the road race. Ironaically, Noaker and Harris, who traveled to Moab together, also finished third in their division's criterium. "I didn't expect to win this early in the season," said Noaker. "I did what I wanted to in the race and it came off. I guess I'm in better shape than I though I was." Noaker, who turned 35 this winter and moved from the Men's Senior division into the Veteran's cast, said he really "wasn't pushed." He controlled the opening event, the time trial, from start to finish, and had little difficulty in winning the conclud ing event, the 50-mile road race, run through Arches Park and back to Moab. But his competi- tor's strategy in the criterium J ruined his bid for a sweep of the events. "My closest competitor rode my wheel for most of the race," said Noaker. "That meant that I was doing most of the work, and . when I got ready to sprint, I was too late, because the pack had exploded past me. I was slam-dunked," he said with a laugh. "That race taught me a lesson that I had forgotten." Madonna, a 28-year old New Zealand transplant who is regarded re-garded as one of the state's top female athletes, defeated a number of ranked competitors en route to her victories. Her win in the road race was a thriller as she went "wheel to wheel in a sprint to the finish line," according to Noaker. Noaker attributed their victories victor-ies to some pre-race planning and strategy. "Madonna and I took a ride around the race course the day before the race, and got a feel for the course. We knew where we could make a break, and generally, got an idea of how to ride the race." I mi I photo by Nan Chalat Madonna Harris sped to victory on her bicycle last weekend in the Moab Stage Race. u |