Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 1, 1995 TAG: 9505010080
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
And what better way to garner the attention of thousands gathered on the Virginia Tech campus than to race to a dramatic Stage 4 victory and a commanding overall lead in the Tour DuPont?
Armstrong attacked on the steepest part of the final climb to Mountain Lake on Sunday - about 115 miles from the start in Lynchburg - and never let up. Armstrong, 23, of Austin, Texas, finished the race in 6 hours, 13 minutes, 17 seconds. Motorola teammate Andrea Peron, who had worn the leader's yellow jersey for two days, was second, 2:10 back.
``I remember two things from this stage last year: I remember all the people on this campus went crazy, and I remember how bummed out I was,'' said Armstrong, who finished third here in 1994. ``So coming back and winning and doing it in this fashion has got to be one of the best races of my life.''
Defending champion Viatcheslav Ekimov finished third, 2:37 back and also is third in the overall standings, 2:45 behind Armstrong. Peron, who held a one-second advantage over Armstrong entering the first mountain stage, is second overall, 2:10 back.
Armstrong hailed the work of his Motorola teammates, particularly Peron and Sean Yates, who helped subdue a five-man group that chased Armstrong in the final 25 miles of the 141-mile stage. The group included Ekimov, who had no teammates to help counteract the Motorola riders.
``Motorola has the strongest team and today we proved it,'' said Peron, who was the beneficiary of the team efforts when he won Stage 2 on Friday. On Sunday, the Italian sacrificed his ambitions for those of Armstrong, Motorola's designated leader.
``Our tactic today was to ride as fast as possible on the last climb,'' Peron said. ``Whoever was riding best would try to take advantage. He sacrificed himself on the first day for me. Today, I sacrificed for him.''
Armstrong, who has finished second in the Tour DuPont the past two years, will wear the yellow jersey for the first time today for the mountain time trial in the Roanoke Valley. He is not known for being particularly strong in time trials and acknowledged he was contemplating Stage 5 during his breakaway Sunday.
``I was thinking: The more time I can get the better. I certainly had [today] on my mind. I'm just so motivated this year,'' he said. ``I'm happy with the way I'm riding. I'm comfortable in Roanoke and I'm comfortable with the course. I've invested some time there.''
Still lurking is Ekimov, who does well in time trials and won the Roanoke stage last year before holding off Armstrong for the overall title. The native of Russia was noticeably dejected Sunday and said he had not been feeling well this week.
``I'm probably not at 100 percent,'' Ekimov said. ``The stage [today] is important. I hope I feel better than I felt [Sunday]. I can't seem to get going in the mornings.''
In a time trial, cyclists race strictly against the clock. They will leave at one-minute intervals from the Salem Civic Center today in reverse order of the overall standings, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
The course winds over Twelve O'Clock Knob and Mount Chestnut before heading up Brambleton Avenue. Cyclists should cross the finish line at the market in downtown Roanoke from noon until about 2:30 p.m.
NOTES: Armstrong is only the fourth American to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour DuPont and the first since Greg LeMond, who won the title in 1992. ... Motorola still has a strong hold on the team standings. Five of the top nine spots in the overall standings are held by Motorola riders. ... In addition to his yellow jersey, Armstrong also continues to lead in the mountain standings. ... Gianluca Bortolami took a nose dive on the course and in the standings. A crash dropped the prologue winner from fifth overall to 30th. ... Sprint specialist Malcolm Elliott, the winner of Stage 1, also suffered in the mountains, falling from fourth to 31st.
by CNB