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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995                   TAG: 9504270016
SECTION: TOUR DUPONT                    PAGE: TD-22   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FOR RIDERS IN STAGE 6

``Those guys will absolutely love to see Stage 6 after going through 4 and 5,'' said Jim Birrell, technical director for Medalist Sports, Inc., which organizes the race.

``After two days of climbing hills, Stage 6 should look like a big piece of cake to 'em.''

Coming off the race's first mountain test, from Lynchburg to Blacksburg in Stage 4, and the rigorous Roanoke Valley time trial in Stage 5, the field will get a much-needed reprieve in Stage 6. Except for assorted small climbs, the 139-mile run from Galax to Charlotte, N.C., is almost entirely downhill.

Unlike in the previous two stages, the field should remain pretty tight throughout despite the fact that pack speeds could reach 63 mph in a monster decline on the Blue Ridge Parkway near North Carolina's Piedmont Triad.

``It's going to be a pretty good pace, that's for sure,'' said Thomas Craven, a noted sprint artist for the Chevrolet-LA Sheriff team. ``And I don't look for too much separation in the pack. We should be fairly well-controlled most of the way.''

The rolling course includes four sprints - the most of any '95 stage - which award points to the top six finishers.

The sprints, which are races within a race, all pay at least four-figure checks to the winner.

``Even those small races get to be rather large,'' Craven said. ``We'll go pretty good for those things.''

Plus, a bonus of $10,000 awaits the winner of Stage 6, compliments of the Charlotte Local Organizing Committee for the Tour DuPont.

``There's a large sum of money to be won in this stage,'' Birrell said. ``It almost makes you wonder why go after the overall leader's jersey with this kind of cash on the line.

``The sprints will be the highlight of Stage 6. Sprints have become very important on this year's Tour because a lot of small towns are putting up large sums of money that go directly to the rider.''

Tight packs racing at high speeds for a lot of money - that's a trifecta they're used to down around Charlotte.

``Once we get to Charlotte, the real action should start,'' said Craven, referring to a finish that includes three circuits around the city's South Park Mall.

Dale Earnhardt and his fellow NASCAR leadfoots would love this stuff. These two-wheel guys just rub elbows instead of fenders.

``There will be plenty of speed in Stage 6,'' Birrell said. ``The pack will average 30 to 33 mph. On a normal day they average about 24 mph.

``And it will be close because of the all the incentives from all the sprints.''

Stage 6 and Stage 7's 148-mile flatland run from Concord, N.C., to Greenville, S.C., will give the field's sprinters back-to-back opportunities to excel.

``We're trying to see the yellow [leader's] jersey change,'' Birrell said. ``The mountain guys should be leading heading to [Stage] 6. Then, we'll probably see a sprinter leading after [Stages] 6 and 7. Then it's back into the mountains, where things should turn again.''

Stage 6 figures to be a spectator's delight as much of the action parallels I-77. Sprint finishes in Elkin, Statesville, Mooresville and Davidson, N.C., are all within a stone's throw of the interstate.