Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994 TAG: 9406170250
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Cycle Roanoke Valley, Inc., the organizing committee formed in 1993 to lure the Tour to the valley, met this week with officials from Medalist Sports, Inc., the company that organizes the premier cycling event in the United States. Officials in Blacksburg and Wytheville also plan to make pitches to Medalist soon for 1995.
In Roanoke, the topics discussed included response to the Valley's 1994 time trial and the possibility of keeping a time trial in '95, as well as adding a stage start.
``It looks as if they were very pleased and we're looking forward to receiving a request for bid from them,'' said Delvis ``Mac'' McCadden, a Roanoke city councilman and president of Cycle Roanoke Valley, Inc.
In addition to holding another time trial, the committee also expressed to Medalist an interest in providing a start for the next day's stage, McCadden said.
Each host site is required to provide a certain number of complimentary hotel rooms and meals for the cyclists and their entourages. This year, the Valley provided 300 hotel rooms and two meals (dinner and breakfast) for 600 at a total cost of just over $58,000, raised through local sponsorships.
McCadden explained that minimal additional funds would be required to add a stage start to the Valley's participation in the '95 Tour because no extra hotel rooms would be needed. However, the Valley would be required to commit to providing one extra meal.
McCadden estimated the committee would budget about $72,000 for next year's event, including an entry fee yet to be determined by Medalist.
Some sites pay between $50,000 and $60,000 annually to become host cities for the Tour, but Medalist waived an entry fee for the valley last year. McCadden said he estimated Medalist would ask for approximately $10,000, but hoped it would be less.
``Everything is up in the air right now,'' said Steve Brunner, Medalist's vice president for media and public realations. ``Things went great in Roanoke, but whether there's a time trial, road race or start [next year] ... we won't come to any conclusions until August.''
Medalist has set a deadline of Aug.1 to have the 1995 route completed and likely will make an announcement toward the middle of the month. McCadden said the valley's time trial, which was the critical fifth stage in the 12-day event this year, could be pushed back in the race.
``We're talking about maybe Stage 6 or 7,'' McCadden said. ``[Medalist] liked what we did in terms of changing the outcome of the race. Making the time trial later would build the drama a little more.''
Brunner said it was too early to tell when or if the Roanoke Valley would appear on the 1995 route.
``It would be premature for me to make a comment on that,'' he said. ``We're still piecing it together. Basically, right now we're going to cities and getting a feel for how things went last year and how they're going this year.''
Brunner said more than 30 cities were being seriously considered for stages.
Basically, Medalist sets requirements for each city, which then determines whether or not it can meet the criteria for the event.
``Every city from last year is being reconsidered for 1995, but other cities even from other states are coming forward,'' said Brunner, who mentioned Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Newport News as possible new sites.
``We know that Roanoke can meet the requirements because they did last year and did and outstanding job. But there always has to be flexibility.''
Mike Matzuk, chairman of Blacksburg's local organizing committee, and Trent Crewe, Mayor of Wytheville, also are hoping Medalist will stick with a proven product.
``We're pretty confident we're high on [Medalist's] list, but the up-front fee is what makes me nervous,'' Matzuk said.
Blacksburg had a start in 1993 and a finish in 1994. Medalist president Mike Plant called the Blacksburg finish, which approximately 30,000 people watched, one of the most successful in the Tour's six-year history.
Matzuk said Blacksburg paid ``nowhere near'' $50,000 last year and was not prepared to make such a concession for '95, when the city hopes to hold another stage finish and possibly a start.
``I hate to use the word `impossible,' but with a community as small a Blacksburg, [a large entry fee] would be tough,'' he said.
Wytheville, which slid into the '94 route when Medalist and The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs couldn't resolve differences, produced a successful start to Stage 7 this year.
Crewe said he had not met with Medalist representatives yet, but had received letters that led him to believe Wytheville was being considered for '95.
Crewe said Wytheville paid a small entry fee last year, but expressed hesitation about providing a larger amount for '95.
``I don't know, but I expect that [Medalist] has gotten so many requests that they can pretty much name their price,'' Crewe said. ``There is a [entry fee] number that is out of reach, but we don't know what that is yet because we're still unsure about our involvement.''
Crewe said Wytheville would be willing to provide a stage start or finish next year.
The proposed dates for the '95 Tour DuPont are April 26 through May 7, one week earlier than this year's event, but won't be finalized until August.
by CNB