Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020113
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Even the kindergartners waved their booster cards and cheered as the cyclists sped down Twelve O'Clock Knob Road.
The youngsters shouted and shrieked - almost as loudly as the older children - as the Tour DuPont rolled by Back Creek Elementary School in Roanoke County on Monday.
The kindergartners are just as big fans of American cyclist Lance Armstrong as the fourth- and fifth-graders.
They knew that Armstrong was leading the race, and they had written his name on their Tour DuPont booster cards.
"Yeah, I saw that Armstrong guy on TV," said 6-year-old Melissa Cordell.
Some children had their own homemade signs to cheer on the Motorola team cyclist from Austin, Texas.
Carrie Metheny, a fifth-grader, made a sign that read "Go, Armstrong, Go." She's not a tour enthusiast, but she read in Monday's newspaper that Armstrong was the leader. She thought it would be neat to wave a sign for him.
The Back Creek children did not know when Armstrong passed because the cyclists don't have their names on their bikes or uniforms. They just cheered for everyone.
The children crossed Bent Mountain Road (U.S. 221) to watch the time trial from the parking lot at the rear of the Back Creek Fire Station near the intersection with Twelve O'Clock Knob Road.
The kindergartners brought blankets and towels to sit on in the grass or parking lot. The older children stood.
Nick Varney, a fifth-grade teacher, said the children were excited about the race because John Carlin, an anchorman for WSLS (Channel 10) and a bicycle enthusiast, presented a bike safety program at the school last week.
"He got them hyped up, and they have been looking forward to it," Varney said.
As the bicycles approached around a curve, teachers and some children would alert the others. The entire group would applaud, shout and wave their booster cards.
Many of the cyclists acknowledged the applause and shouts by waving.
Some Back Creek children are racing enthusiasts.
Fifth-grader Blake Holcomb knows about Greg LeMond, America's most famous cyclist, who won the Tour DuPont in 1992 and is a three-time winner of the Tour de France. LeMond has retired, and is part of ESPN's commentary team for the Tour DuPont this year.
For Holcomb, LeMond still overshadows Armstrong and the other riders in this year's race.
David Avery, a fifth-grader, missed the time trial last year because he was at the beach. But he was on the front row Monday, rooting for Armstrong.
David said he thought it would be fun to be a bicycle racer, but it would take a lot of work.
Cailan Garvin, a fifth-grader, was more confident. He's already telling friends that he hopes to compete in the Tour DuPont someday.
"I've gotten up to 35 mph on my bike," Garvin said.
Fourth-grader Jack Slowikowski has the urge to race. He will compete in the Iron Kids triathlon in cycling, running and swimming in the Roanoke Valley this month.
Most of the children said they enjoy biking, even if many are too young to compete in bicycle races.
Caitlin White, a second-grader, said she has four bikes, and that she stays busy riding them. Dagny Patton, a fifth-grader who was also rooting for Armstrong, said her bike is stalled with a flat tire.
Fifth-grader Matthew Cox said he enjoyed the race, even though he doesn't have a bicycle. Cox said he lives on a mountain too steep for bicycles. Instead, he has a four-wheeler.
If the race comes by their school again next year, the children said they will be there to cheer the cyclists.
by CNB