Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 15, 1994 TAG: 9402150064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Stage 6 will start in Lynchburg on May 10 and finish - 138 miles and five mountain climbs later - at the Drill Field on the Virginia Tech campus.
"We're excited to usher in spring with the Tour DuPont," said Ron Secrist, Blacksburg's town manager, who estimated a crowd of 25,000 would show up for the stage finish, double the amount that witnessed a stage start in Blacksburg last year.
Steve Brunner, director of communications for Medalist Sports, the Tour's Richmond-based organizer, said the Tour had been successful on college campuses and the crowd could push 30,000. The stage will start at 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn in downtown Lynchburg and finish on the Tech campus between 4:45 and 5:20 p.m.
Medalist will set up a big screen television - 15 feet high by 10 feet across - which will allow spectators to watch the last two hours of the stage.
"It really is a festival of sorts," Brunner said. "You'll see the drama unfold in the last two climbs and the icing on the cake is when these riders come into town."
The overall route was changed last month when Medalist and The Homestead agreed to forgo a stop in Hot Springs, allowing Blacksburg to step in as a finishing site.
Mike Plant, president of Medalist, said the support shown last year by Blacksburg and Tech was one reason why they were awarded a finish.
"Last year's crowd in Blacksburg was probably the largest we've seen for a start and we expect a bigger crowd on Tech's campus with the finish of the school year," he said. "And, because of the terrain, spectators will be treated to great athleticism on May 10."
Brunner said the change was a blessing in disguise.
"It ends up being a much more dynamic race, particularly with the Mountain Lake climb," he said. "We're excited about the overall course. We think it's the best we've had in the six years of the event."
Brunner described Stage 6 - the longest stage on the route - as grueling. Riders who specialize in climbing will have an advantage as the stage includes climbs over the Peaks of Otter, North Mountain, Johns Creek Mountain, Mountain Lake and Brush Mountain.
Mountain Lake is the first of only three Category 1 climbs on the tour's route. Categorization of climbs is determined by length and steepness and range from one (highest) to four (lowest).
"We've worked hard and designed a pretty good course with a big climb at the beginning [Peaks of Otter] to soften up the pack, some good intermediate climbs and a big monster climb [Mountain Lake] 120 miles into the race," he said. "By the time they reach the finish, you're going to see a good separation of riders.
"There will also be a lot of strategy involved. All of the riders will be spent from the time trial in Roanoke the day before."
Brunner said Stage 6 was a good opportunity for spectators to see a variety of racing elements.
"It would be possible for people to see the start, a mountain climb, a sprint and be down in Blacksburg in time to see the finish," he said.
Medalist has confirmed that three of the top riders in the world will participate in this year's event: three-time Tour de France winner and 1992 Tour DuPont champion Greg Lemond, defending Tour DuPont champion Raul Alcala of Mexico and current world champion Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas.
Five teams, including defending Tour DuPont champion Chevrolet-L.A. Sheriff of the U.S., have committed. Sixteen to 18 more teams will be confirmed by the end of March, Plant said.
by CNB