Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 29, 1995 TAG: 9506010013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Roanoke Orthopaedic Center staged its annual Festival in the Park bicycle hillclimb Sunday on Mill Mountain.
At least one competitor still is wondering where the hill is.
The snaking 1.87-mile hike, which includes a lung-sucking 847-feet rise in elevation, was so severe that women's professional division winner Clara Hughes tried it ... six times.
``The course is so much fun,'' Hughes, 22, of Canada, said. ``I did it the first four times to get a feel for the course. But the fifth trip, the one that counted against the clock, was the best.''
After dusting off her class, Hughes headed back to the starting line for an unprecedented sixth climb up a road (Sylvan Ave.) that long ago was deemed to be too steep and treacherous by Roanoke City officials for vehicular passage.
``The last trip was for sightseeing,'' said Hughes, a 23-year-old former speed skater.
``It was a really neat road. It was so European. And it was kind of neat coming up and ending in the fog.''
Hughes' cycling travels have been worldwide, but this was her first trip to Virginia. She has fallen in love with the area.
``I've been to a lot of places, but I don't think I've ever met more friendlier people,'' said Hughes, who won a silver medal in the 1995 Pan American Games. ``The people here have been so nice. Winning today just makes it a nicer time.''
Hughes took care of business for her team, which is sponsored by Saturn, one of the climb's primary sponsors. Her time of 10 minutes, 2.94 seconds easily outdistanced runner-up Bonnie Breeze.
``They [Saturn] brought me in here,'' Hughes said, ``so I'd better win for them.''
In the men's professional division, unattached rider Matt Robbins of Richmond knocked off a field that included some of cycling's biggest names.
Robbins beat favorite Scott Fortner of Team Saturn by more than 4 seconds, climbing the hill in 8:53.28.
``I'm kind of surprised that time held up,'' said Robbins, ninth in his past two ROC starts. ``It feels good to beat these guys.''
Robbins, 38, a former distance swimmer at Virginia Tech, said he has some cycling opportunities, but has chosen to stick to his position as a Richmond architect.
``The paycheck is a little more regular,'' he said. ``I've been asked by some teams to come on board, but I've got to work 40 hours a week.''
Staunton's Andy Rhodes supplied a another noteworthy performance, winning the junior division in 9:48.76, then coming back to take second in the Senior Men's III division behind Ed Dickerson of Roanoke in 9:41.60.
Many of Sunday's participants will suit up again today for the $14,500 Saturn Festival Cup run in downtown Roanoke. The pro-division race will be run at 12:30 p.m. on the .6-mile rectangular course.
by CNB