Eric Murphy’s plan for the Senior 1, 2, 3 Trippe’s Western Auto Downtown Criterium Sunday was to stay with the pack.

Murphy’s plan worked well enough to give him the 2000 Natchez Bicycle Classic championship.

Murphy, a native of Baton Rouge, La., finished fifth in the criterium after winning the Herring Gas Road Race Saturday to take the overall title. Murphy was 10th in the time trial Saturday.

Murphy finished with an overall time of 4:17:37. Gary Loafman of Lawton, Olka., was second at 4:17:38, while Allen Abell of Richardson, Texas, was third at 4:17:46. Max Miley of Allen, Texas was fourth at 4:18:29.

Murphy, who is not a sprinter, was concerned early when his Red Stick Cycling teammates ran into trouble and were out of the race early.

&uot;I just pretty much tried to stay with everybody,&uot; said Murphy, who finished 21 seconds behind criterium winner Miley. &uot;None of the key players really threatended. I knew one of the guys (Miley) was capable of lapping the field, but he had two guys chasing him which kept him from breaking away. Toward the end I stopped worrying about it.&uot;

The downtown criterium turned into a three-man race as Miley, Bryan Bunch and Rory McAdams led the field by more than 15 seconds over the last six laps. Each lap .828 of a mile long.

Forty-five minutes into the race, McAdams, who finished second overall last year, led with Bowes on his wheel and McAdams right behind. The three riders were 17 seconds ahead of the field.

With five laps to go, Bunch was in front, with Miley on his wheel and McAdams following closely. The remainder of the 20-something riders were 18 seconds down.

With one lap remaining, McAdams, Bowes and Miley zipped down Main Street with remaining riders 17 seconds behind.

Miley took the lead on Franklin Street, just before turning right on Union.

&uot;At first I let the two guys get in front of me so I could draft off of them,&uot; Miley said. &uot;The didn’t know if I was tired or not. I stayed back until we crested the hill (on Franklin) and then I just dug down as deep as I could. I was hoping nobody else had anything left. This is my kind of course. It fits my style perfect.&uot;

Miley, 39, has been racing for 17 years.

&uot;I’m going to race in Colorado in the Zinger, which is a 135-mile race with an 80-mile climb, considered

one of the toughest races in the world,&uot; he said. &uot;Then I am planning on competing in the Masters National in Austria next year.&uot;

McAdams finished second at 1:08:43 and was fifth overall at 4:18:46.

Bunch finished third in the criterium at 1:08:45 and eighth overall at 4:18:29.

&uot;I tried not to overextend myself,&uot; Bunch said. &uot;Once I knew the group wasn’t going to catch us, I didn’t push myself because I was pretty much spent at the end.&uot;

&uot;I’ve been coming since ’92,&uot;&160;he said. &uot;This is a great race and the people in Natchez are nice.&uot;

Bunch said he has consistently finished in the top 10, but this year’s finish was his best.

Murphy was a Category 4 cyclist last year before moving up to Senior 3 this year. The Natchez win was his first as a Senior 1, 2, 3 rider.

&uot;This is probably my biggest win ever,&uot; he said. &uot;I learn something from each race and I’ve learned to take it easy in the first half of races.&uot;

Murphy said he hopes to move up to Senior 2 next year.

&uot;I’m going to give it two or three years and see where it takes me,&uot; he said. &uot;I’d like to go pro.&uot;