Eric Murphy of Baton Rouge, La., never considered himself much of a sprinter when it came to cycling. So the 24-year-old Murphy even surprised himself Saturday when he sprinted toward the finish line, holding a small pack of riders to win the Senior 1, 2, 3 category of the Herring Gas Road Race, a stage race in the Natchez Bicycle Classic.

Murphy, who rides for Red Stick Cycling of Baton Rouge, completed the 76-mile race in 3:03:45.

&uot;The first half of the race I just kind of hung back because nothing was going on,&uot; he said. &uot;Then one of Herring Gas’ top riders took off and we bridged up to it and stayed with them. My teammates would not let them get away. We were coming in with less than a mile to go and a guy kind of attacked.

&uot;I stayed in a draft as long as possible and then just made a sprint. I’m as surprised as anyone I won it, because I’m not a sprinter. I think a couple of the stronger guys had to attack earlier and burned their legs out. I had enough ‘go-juice’ to make it.&uot;

Murphy finished eighth in the time trial at 4:50, 16 seconds behind winner Jason Waddell of Norman, Okla.

Those combined times have Murphy also in first place overall, one second ahead of Gary Loafman of Lawton, Okla., who was seventh in the time trial.

&uot;The main thing I have to do today (Trippe’s Western Auto Downtown Criterium) is stay with the pack,&uot; he said.

&uot;My teammates have to make sure nobody breaks away. We should be in good shape.&uot;

Jack Ditt was the top finisher for the local Herring team, placing fourth at 3:03:52.

&uot;We were trying hard to get Frank (Moak) in for the first two hot spots (bonus points for a specified sprint area) and we took two of three of those spots and that moved Frank up to third or fourth. But Frank crashed out. I had a breakaway after that, but I couldn’t get away.&uot;

Ditt is fourth overall at 3:08:45, five seconds behind Allen Abell of Richardson, Texas.

Shawn Casey of Rockwall, Texas and the Herring Gas Team is 16th overall, while teammate Brad Hecker is 20th.

Moak is in 31st place.

Eddie Cocoran of Kenner, La., won the Senior 4, 5 Road Race at 2:36:13.Cocoran is also the overall leader.

Cal Partlow of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., won the Masters 35+ 1, 2, 3 at 2:30:01. Jeff Austin of Austin,&160;Texas the division.

Robin Davis of Leeds, Ala., won the Masters 35+&160;4, 5 Road Race and lead overall.

Wendy Webb of Fort Walton, Fla., won the Women 1, 2, 3 Road Race and is second to Lisa Ferris of Austin, Texas overall.

Julie Mallette of Birmingham won the Women’s 4, 5 road race and leads overall.

&uot;We had four members in the race so we held back and tried to go off some breaks,&uot; Mallette said. &uot;My teammates really helped.&uot;

The Trippe’s Western Auto Criterium completes the race today, with the Women’s 4 starting at 9:30 a.m. and four categories following.

A kids race will be held at 1 p.m., followed by Masters 35 1, 2, 3 at 1:15 p.m. A celebrity race is slated for 2 p.m., followed by the Senior 1, 2, 3 downtown criterium.