ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010015
SECTION: TOUR DUPONT PAGE: 17 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
The hordes of truckers traveling I-81 won't be the only warriors of the road eager to see Wytheville come May 7.
Add the field of the 1996 Tour DuPont to that list.
While the cyclists won't be booking sleeping quarters in one of the nation's true truck-stop heavens, they will be banking on some room service in Wytheville, site of the start of Stage 7.
If there is any stage that offers room for relaxation in the 13-day, 1,225-mile marathon, it's this seemingly innocent 110.1-mile jaunt from Wytheville to Bristol.
Sandwiched between what most experts consider the two most physically draining stages - Nos.6 (Salem to Blacksburg) and 8 (Bristol to Beech Mountain, N.C.) - Stage 7 figures to be the closest thing the Tour has to an off-day.
In a much-needed reprieve coming off the torture of Stage 6, Stage 7 deals the competitors 40 miles of flatlands to start. Room service.
``In that first 40 miles, the guys will be able to rest and try to get the soreness out of their legs from the previous day,'' said Jim Birrell, the course's designer.
``There is a sprint in Rural Retreat, so there will be a little activity there. Then they'll probably relax all the way through Teas.''
At approximately the 41.5-mile mark, the pack will face the first of only two categorized climbs in the entire stage. Additional room service.
First, comes a Category 3 climb up Iron Mountain, followed by a Category 2 ride up Whitetop Mountain, at 4,480 feet the highest point in Virginia.
``When they start climbing, then you're going to see some activity,'' Birrell said, ``because there's enough of a climb there that you can certainly separate the men from the boys and get you some time on your side before coming into Bristol.''
After scaling Whitetop, it's clear sailing for the field. The final 54 miles to Bristol are all downhill.
With many of the top cyclists expected to be worn out from a brutal Stage 6, not to mention conserving their energy for a rigorous Stage 8, some experts contend Stage 7 offers the best chance of any leg of producing an underdog winner.
``You bet,'' Birrell said. ``Out of all the stages, this is the best chance for maybe an unknown to break through.''
When asked if Stage 7 could be a day of rest for some of the leaders, Birrell laughed and said, ``Oh, yeah.''
``The mountains [in Stage 7], they are high, but they're not that significant. They're not like the day before, where [the cyclists] got beat up. That one into Blacksburg [Mountain Lake, Category 1] is definitely going to change the leader's jersey because there's so many mountains in that 132-mile race.
``That's going to put some soreness into most riders' legs. And trying to prepare yourself for Stage 8 [and the dreaded Beech Mountain climb], you're probably going to want to ride a little conservatively on Stage 7.''
However, Birrell said the strategy could change for a few competitors.
``If you're a guy in contention and you know you've got the tough one [Stage 8] coming, you may go all-out to get as much time in [Stage 7] because it's not as hard as the next stage,'' he said. ``The train of thought may be to ride conservatively in Stage 8, where you know you can get a spanking.''
Still, the chances appear good that Stage 7 will be little more than a nice four-hour bike ride through Wythe, Smythe and Grayson counties - some of the prettiest terrain on the Tour's entire course.
``It's going to be pretty much a low-key stage,'' Birrell said. ``Oh, you've got sprints in Rural Retreat and Damascus, which should put a little fire into a few of their butts.
``But, yeah, I don't see a huge gap between the lead group and the follow group on this stage.''
No matter the circumstances, Wytheville is happy just to have the Tour back. This marks the second time in the Tour's eight years that Wytheville has played host to a stage start.
``We absolutely love Tour DuPont,'' said Wytheville Mayor Trent Crewe Jr.
And if the Wythevillians' leg is a piece of cake, a rest stop, a comp day, or room service, so what?
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart.by CNB