Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, August 12, 1994                   TAG: 9408120075
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VALLEY HAS STAGE SET FOR '95 TOUR

A cloud of pessimism that hung over recent talks on bringing the Tour DuPont back to the Roanoke Valley in 1995 has lifted.

Local organizers are indicating the valley will participate in America's premier cycling event for the second consecutive year.

Organizers in Blacksburg also are confident their town will be on the route for the third consecutive year, and it appears Greensboro, N.C., has earned a spot after a one-year hiatus.

Cycle Roanoke Valley, Inc., the non-profit corporation formed in 1993 to bring the Tour to the Roanoke area, is ironing out details on a contract with Medalist Sports, Inc., the Tour's Richmond-based organizer, and expects to come to terms soon. A contract signed and returned to Medalist by Monday would virtually guarantee the valley a spot on the 1995 route, which will be officially unveiled Tuesday in Greensboro.

The valley is expected to be the site of another time trial in 1995 after earning numerous compliments for its first effort in May.

Delvis ``Mac'' McCadden, president of Cycle Roanoke Valley and a Roanoke city councilman, indicated two weeks ago that the corporation might turn down the standard contract issued by Medalist because of financial problems incurred last year. On Thursday, he said the two parties were close to an agreement.

As for the $14,000 loss Cycle Roanoke Valley took this year, ``We're still working on that, but we're much, much closer,'' said McCadden, indicating the corporation still was a few thousand dollars short of the break-even point.

Ron Secrist, Blacksburg's town manager, said Blacksburg's contract had been signed and returned to Medalist.

``Blacksburg would love to serve as a host again for the Tour DuPont. It's a dynamic event, and we're proud of what has been accomplished,'' said Secrist, who indicated Blacksburg would likely serve as a finishing site of a stage for the second consecutive year after beginning its involvement with the Tour as a start site in 1993.

Wytheville stepped in on short notice this year as the site for the start of a stage, after The Homestead Resort dropped off the route, but has not received a contract from Medalist. That indicates the town likely will be left off the 1995 route. But Trent Crewe, Wytheville's mayor, is keeping his fingers crossed.

``I've been told they'll be back in touch with us,'' Crewe said. ``What I think they're doing is going to the bigger places and seeing what they say first.''