Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The American cyclist, who visited for three days in April to train on the valley's 23-mile time-trial course, saw his dedication and persistence pay off with a victory in Stage 5 of the Tour DuPont.
``When I was here training last week, I didn't realize I would be in the position I was in today,'' said Armstrong, who made his move in the mountains of Stage 4 on Sunday and entered the Roanoke Valley with a lead of more than two minutes in the overall standings.
``I like it here. This is a cool place - not a lot to do, but it's a cool place.''
Armstrong toured the course - which included climbs over Twelve O'Clock Knob and Mount Chestnut - in 56 minutes, 23 seconds to break the mark set last year by defending champion Viatcheslav Ekimov by 1:25.
Ekimov, of the Novell team, was eight seconds slower than Armstrong to finish second Monday and remained third in the overall standings, 2:53 back. Andrea Peron, Armstrong's Motorola teammate, was third in the time trial - 34 seconds behind - and remained second in the overall standings, 2:43 back.
Time trials are not Armstrong's strength, but he earned a bonus of $1,500 paid by Cox Cable to the Stage 5 winner. He said he did it by riding conservatively on a course that was wet in spots because of a light afternoon rain.
``The course was slower than it was last year. It was wet out there on top'' of the mountains, Armstrong said. ``... I was extremely conservative on the downhill.''
Armstrong, who has finished second in the Tour DuPont the past two years, called the Stage 5 victory the culmination of two years of hard work.
``The past two winters we've spent quite a lot of time determining how it is that I can be strong in other disciplines but not the time trial,'' said Armstrong, 23, of Austin, Texas. ``I think it's starting to pay off, all the work.''
``... I'm the guy who came here. I'm the guy who invested the time. I guess that had something to do with it.''
Ekimov was more straightforward about Monday's results saying, Armstrong ``is just a strong guy at this point.''
There are six stages remaining in the 1,130-mile event and Ekimov said he thought Armstrong's overall lead of 2:53 would be tough to overcome.
``Something will have to happen - something unbelievable,'' he said.
If the 101 remaining cyclists need an incentive, today's 139-mile stage from Galax to Charlotte, N.C., certainly provides it. The winner of Stage 6 will receive a bonus of $10,000, courtesy of the Charlotte organizing committee.
NOTES: Michael Blaudzun of Novell was the quickest rider to the top of Twelve O'Clock Knob and earned a $1,000 bonus offered by John Deere Health Care. He finished 29th in Stage 5 and is 11th overall. ... Italian Gianluca Bortolami of Mapei-GB, the prologue winner who fell out of contention for the overall title with a spill in Stage 4, rebounded with a seventh-place finish on Monday. He is 29th overall. ... Robbie McEwen of the Australian national team leads the sprint competition with 24 points. Peron and Great Britain's Malcolm Elliott are second with 22 points each. ... Armstrong has a hold on the King of Mountains standings with 41 points, leading Peron by 14 and Ekimov by 13. ... The sprint and mountain champions each earn $5,000 at the end of the race. ... Motorola appears to have the team title wrapped up with a 30-minute advantage over Novell. Four teams - Novell, Navigare-Bluestorm, Mapei-GB and Montgomery-Bell - are within four minutes of each other in the race for second place.
by CNB