Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9505020053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
Djamoldin Abdujaparov of team Novell bolted from the main pack of riders just 30 yards from the finish line to claim his first victory of the season. Abdujaparov toured the 133-mile rolling course from Richmond in six hours, two minutes and 32 seconds.
Massimo Strazzer, an Italian riding for Navigare-Bluestorm, was second and Robbie McEwen of the amateur Australian national team was third.
Andrea Peron of Italy finished in the main pack and retained the overall leader's yellow jersey by one second over Motorola teammate Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas. Defending champion Viatcheslav Ekimov of Novell is third, seven seconds behind Peron.
Abdujaparov, a native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is considered the top sprinter in the field and proved why Saturday.
After two days of hard racing, cyclists rode at a leisurely tempo for more than 100 miles before reaching the Lynchburg city limits. The pace then picked up for the three final circuits of eight miles each near E.C. Glass High School.
Several riders attempted breakaways on the finishing circuits, including Saturn's Ron Kiefel, Vladimir Kirik of Shaklee, Eric Van Lancker of Collstrop, and Peron. Each, however, was hunted down by the well-rested field with the seven riders of Motorola leading the way.
Peron attempted his breakaway at the start of the final circuit.
``I started to sprint too early and they caught me. I can't keep up with `Abdu.'''
Abdujaparov, who speaks no English, has been hampered by the flu in the early racing season. Through an interpreter, the five-time stage winner of the Tour de France said he was happy to have finally earned his first win of the season, but had no clear explanation for his success.
``It was nothing out of the ordinary. About 300 to 400 meters from the finish I wanted to ride my own race, which is to wait until the end and then explode,'' he said.
Motorola retained the overall team lead, 10 seconds ahead of Novell and 19 seconds ahead of Mapei-GB, the Italian team ranked No.1 in the world.
The most aggressive rider jersey, awarded each day by members of the media, was presented to the Motorola team, which has five riders in the top 11 and all seven in the top 30.
Malcolm Elliott of Great Britain, the winner of Stage 1 on Thursday, regained the sprint jersey and Armstrong remained the leader in the mountain standings.
Cyclists will get their first real mountain test today in a 141-mile Stage 4 race from Lynchburg to Blacksburg, which includes five climbs.
by CNB