ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605070009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C.I
SOURCE: Associated Press
Dutchman Leon van Bon rode to a surprisingly easy stage victory Saturday, and Lance Armstrong retained his overall lead in the Tour DuPont cycling race.
Van Bon, 24, who rides for the Netherlands-based Rabobank team, bolted to the front of a large sprinting pack just before the final sharp turn about 500 yards from the finish. He won the 110.5-mile, Raleigh-to-Greensboro road race by an estimated 40 yards in 4 hours, 37 minutes, 34 seconds.
The field will ride 112.5 miles from Mount Airy, N.C., to Roanoke in today's fifth stage, which includes four medium-sized climbs.
Radisa Cubric of Yugoslavia (Plymouth) was second and veteran rider Malcolm Elliott of Britain (Chevrolet-LA Sheriff) was third, both two seconds behind the winner.
Armstrong, 24, of Austin, Texas (Motorola), who took the lead with his stage victory Thursday night in Richmond, finished 41st in the main field. Armstrong also was two seconds behind van Bon and leads reigning Tour of Italy winner Tony Rominger of Switzerland (Mapei-GB) by 35 seconds. One of Rominger's teammates, Daniele Nardello of Italy, is third, 44 seconds behind.
With the field of 112 facing temperatures in the high 80s and wind gusts of 20 mph, Armstrong rode strategically, often surrounded by his teammates. But on the last of three 3.5-mile finishing circuits, Armstrong moved near the front.
``It was to avoid crashes, of course,'' said Armstrong, the defending titlist and 1993 world road-race champion. ``My teammates were doing what they do well, and we're excited.''
Steve Hegg of Dana Point, Calif. (Chevrolet-LA Sheriff) assumed the race lead during the stage. The 1984 Olympic pursuit gold medalist built nearly a two-minute lead while riding on a 30-mile breakaway with Serge Baguet of Belgium (Vlaanderen 2002). But the duo was caught shortly after beginning the final circuits, about nine miles from the finish.
Van Bon, who claimed the seventh stage of the Tour DuPont and finished 28th overall last year, made his winning move suddenly.
``There was a lot of wind and my helpers had been going hard all day,'' said van Bon, who moved into eighth place overall, 1:11 behind Armstrong. ``I thought maybe I could make it.''
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Stage 4 winner Leon van Bon of the Netherlandsby CNBcelebrates his victory. color.