Former Tour de Trump Race Taken Over by Du Pont Co.

The Du Pont Co. took over sponsorship of the former Tour de Trump today and said the United States’ premier cycling race would be sanctioned internationally as a professional event.

Du Pont stepped in to create the Tour Du Pont after developer Donald Trump ended his multimillion-dollar involvement in the 2-year-old race because of his organization’s financial troubles.

Robert Nightengale Jr., a spokesman for Du Pont, said the chemical company plans “a long-term commitment” to the race, which was run over a 1,103-mile course between Wilmington, Del., and Boston in May.

“Our intent is to make this race bigger and better next year and beyond,” said race director Michael Plant, president of Medalist Sports Inc., “to see the event grow into one of the world’s best cycling races.”

The race will carry a $250,000 purse in 1991, with $50,000 to the winner. Plant said the sanction by the International Federation of Professional Cycling will allow it to bring in 14 professional and four amateur teams of seven racers each in the 1991 race.

The international sanction will also give racers points in determining year-end rankings in cycling, a key attraction organizers pointed to in getting top cyclists.

The course has not been chosen, but Plant said that it will probably begin in Wilmington again and that 20 cities in the Northeast have been approached as sites.