Ketchum's Bill Nurge, 45, hasn't competed in all of the George's Cycles Spring Stage Race bike races presented by Lyle Pearson that began March 11 in the Treasure Valley.
But Sawtooth Velo racer Nurge, riding a Specialized Tarmac SL, was a cycling star in Sunday's Emmett Roubaix 65-miler that wrapped up the $5,000, six-stage U.S. Cycling Federation series.
Nurge (2.23:48) was a 15-second winner over Boise's Joe Savola in a very competitive Masters "A" 35-49 age class that also featured George's veteran bike racers Tom Platt, Robert Hoene and Mike Cooley.
Overall Pro 1/2 winner over the 65-mile point-to-point distance starting at Emmett City Park was Pocatello's Justin Rose (2.25:37) of Team Bob's-Bicycles. Sunday's Women's 1/2/3 winner over 45 miles was Boise's Rebecca Gross of Velo Bella-Kona (2.25:17).
There were other Wood River racers in the field.
Sun Summit racer David Yasenak captured first place in the Masters "A" 50-plus division with a time of 2.26:48, and Sawtooth Velo's Michael Olenick (2.28:51) was fifth of 13 racers over the 65-mile course.
In the 65-mile Men's 3 race, Reid Pletcher of Sun Summit was fourth (2.33:04), Brandon Lynch of Sun Summit South ended up ninth (2.34:54) and Scott Krankkala of Sun Summit finished 10th (2.40:04).
Herberth Corrales of Sun Summit South placed 10th with a time of 2.11:50 in the Masters "B" 45-mile event. In the 45-mile Men's 4/5 class, Kyl Samway finished ninth in 2.20:47. Sun Summit's Davis Hague (2.35:42) was disqualified.
