Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 14, 1993 TAG: 9305140391
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HOT SPRINGS LENGTH: Medium
When Hincapie nosed out a sprinting pack in a wild downhill dash to The Homestead, it appeared he had become the first American amateur to win a stage in the five years of the event.
But the 19-year-old U.S. national team member from Farmingdale, N.Y., didn't celebrate long. When Denmark's Per Pedersen immediately protested that Hincapie shoved off Pedersen's left shoulder, officials reviewed videotape and stripped the victory 20 minutes later.
It was the first time in race history that a finish was overturned. A counter-appeal by the U.S. Cycling Team was denied.
"I went from one of the highestmoments of my life to almost in shock," said Hincapie.
England's Dave Rayner was declared the winner in four hours, 57 minutes, 15 seconds. Erik Dekker of Holland took second and England's Malcolm Elliott moved to third for the second straight day after a stage 6 win.
Mexican Raul Alcala maintained his 23-second overall lead over American Lance Armstrong. Both racers finished the 113-mile Lynchburg-to-Homestead course in the lead pack.
Television replays show that Hincapie put his right hand on Pedersen's left shoulder about 200 yards from the finish. That contact is prohibited by an international cycling rule, but racers say that jostling is common in a sprint.
"I didn't see it, so I don't know what happened," Dekker said. "But [contact] is normal with a sprint. That's sprinting."
"That sprint was so hectic," said Rayner, who didn't accept the winner's flowers. "We were probably going over 45 miles per hour. Sometimes, you use your hands to keep yourself on the bike.
"Now, if he's taking hand swings, obviously that's wrong. I don't know what happened . . . This is not the way I like to win races."
Alcala rolled his eyes when he learned that a racer from the Spanish team Amaya protested the finish.
"That young American guy, it's a bum wrap for him," Alcala said in his broken English. "But it will be a lesson for him."
Pedersen was not available for comment. Hincapie said he was just trying to protect himself.
"I put my hand out because it was the only way to keep him from hitting me," said Hincapie, who was the youngest rider in the 1992 Tour DuPont. "I can't believe it. It's not like I did anything wrong.
"Other riders are saying, `Congratulations, you won the race.' But I don't go on the podium and it doesn't go in the books. It's not the same."
Hincapie was relegated to 60th position, last place in the lead pack. He was also fined $25 and penalized 10 seconds in the overall standings.
"The caliber of riders we have are used to a little bumping and shoving in a high-speed sprint," race executive director Mike Plant said. "I'm a little surprised [at the ruling], let's put it that way."
An early breakaway group built a four-minute lead in stage 8 and held it for 95 miles. The field caught up to the leaders with seven miles left and Swiss racer Jorg Muller made a daring solo breakaway a mile later.
But the pack gobbled up Muller 400 yards from the finish, setting up a Hot Springs sprint for the third straight year.
Cyclists will ride auto transport this morning to Blacksburg for the start of the ninth and most difficult stage, a 151-mile monster that ends with a pair of staggering climbs.
by CNB