Afternoon showers washed out Friday night’s Bank of BrookhavenDowntown Criterium but the sun was shining brightly on Saturday’sroad race and time trials in the Seventh Annual MS Gran Prix BikeRace. Texas resident Carlos Vargas captured Saturday’s DenburyResources Inc. Road Race in Category 1-2-3, beating a recordturnout of 240 bicycle racers in the hilly, 78-mile challenge in 3hours and 12 minutes.

Debbie Milne of Brandon-based Pro Bike Cycling captured thewomen’s division. Her time for the 53-mile race was 2:51:17.

Friday’s criterium, featuring over 80 riders, was canceled dueto slick road conditions. Race offiicials determined the pavementto be too slick for a safe race. They cited the painted stripes andparallel parking striples on the pavement which became extremelyslippery due to road film from automobiles.

“Well, we are all dressed up with no place to go,” saidBrookhaven native Frank Moak, team captain for the Herring Gasteam. Riders and fans were disappointed but they were able to focuson Saturday’s races and Sunday morning’s circuit race atCopiah-Lincoln Community College.

Vargas, 26, riding for TXTough.Org, is a native Columbian whohas been living in Kingwood, Texas for 7 years. He blitzed hisclosest competition by 50 yards. David Wenger of Austin, Texas, wassecond and third place went to Peter Tary of San Antonio,Texas.

Moak and the Herring Gas team placed in the large pack of riderswho finished fifth. The race venue was located in northern LincolnCounty, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

“We planned a breakaway with two or three guys,” said Vargas,explaining his team’s strategy in the road race. “I decided to makea sprint.”

Vargas said he wanted to thank his teammates for helping him winthe race. He also thanked his wife, Gina, and team director BarryLee. The Hotel San Jose is one of the team’s major sponsors. “Iwant to thank Shannon Cliburn and Clif Bar who provides our teamwith protein food.”

During the interview, Vargas was stung on his right thigh by awasp. That caused him more distress than the 80 riders entered inCategory 1-2-3.

Vargas and his teammates have higher goals in the future. “Wewant to win an international race.”

His team will compete in a 17-day challenge this July inWisconsin. It will feature 11 criteriums and 7 road races.

At 5-foot-7 and 149 pounds, Vargas said he has been racing for18 years. He and his four teammates made the long drive fromTexas.

In the women’s division Shannon Koch, from Flower Mound, Texas,was second. Third place went to Andrea Wilson of Germantown,Tenn.

Directing the weekend races are chief referee Shane Fernandez ofLafayette, La., and chief judge Ricky Dunn of Monroe, La.Individual times and places are determined by a camera mounted onthe reviewing stand at at the finish line.

The Physiotherapy Associates Time Trials were staged at UnionHall Baptist Church on Nola Road. Today’s Human Performance Co.Circuit Race began at 7 a.m., at Co-Lin.