Greg Oravetz Drops in Tour Du Pont

Greg Oravetz is just now beginning to feel some of the effects of the Persian Gulf War. And it’s taking a toll on his legs.

Oravetz was the overall leader in the Tour Du Pont--formerly the Tour de Trump--until Tuesday when the 112-mile sixth stage ended in a long climb and he finished 50th, dropping into a tie for 20th overall.

The Coors Light team, of which Oravetz has been member for three years, had been scheduled to compete in a number of stage races in Europe this year, but those plans were canceled when the war began.

“To be honest, I’m glad I’ve done as well as I have,” said Oravetz, a 24-year-old native of Huntington Beach who has lived in Boulder, Colo., for three years. “We’ve only had 10 races so far this year and the Europeans have 30 to 40 races in their legs. They’re just at a higher fitness level right now than we are.”

Norway’s Atle Kvalsvoll proved that Tuesday, winning the rugged Richmond-Wintergreen road race in Virginia in 5 hours 9 minutes 43 seconds. Fabian Jeker of Switzerland was second in 5:10:13. American Alexi Grewal, the 1984 Olympic road race gold medalist, was third in 5:10.42.

Kvalsvoll took the overall lead Tuesday. He’s 48 seconds ahead of Erik Breukiuk of The Netherlands and 1:00 one minute in front of third-place Grewal. Oravetz is 4:00 four minutes behind.

Greg LeMond, who led briefly Tuesday, finished 20th and moved from 48th to 29th overall in the field of 102 cyclists, who face yet another mountainous climb today during the 128-mile Charlottesville-The Homestead road race.

The $300,000 event, the most prestigious and lucrative cycling race in the United States, ends Sunday in Wilmington, Del.