Tour de Georgia... It's ON!

by Clydesdale on Apr 11, 2007 4:38 PM EDT Comment 21 comments

With all that is going on in Belgium and Northern France this week it can easily be forgotten that 2nd largest stage race in the US is scheduled to start on Monday. Should be some great story lines in this one including Big George and how he is recovering from the injury earlier. Interesting to see how Tom D. will handle Brasstown after last year when he admits that his strategy was the reason he lost that climb. I could not find a comprehensive listing of the riders starting the race so I compiled the start list from the Tour De Georgia website and listed it below. This is a VDS race and will be sure to generate a lot of points for someone (me I hope).

Stage rundown and startlist on the flip:

Tour De Georgia

The Tour De Georgia starts on Monday as a race that almost did not happen. Sponsor trouble put the race in doubt after a strong couple of years. It has been overshadowed the last two years with the Tour Of California drawing the early season Pro Tour teams. It is a very important race to the National teams though. It gives them a great opportunity to showcase their talent and sponsors against a selection of the big Pro Tour guns. Of course every rider from any team wants to win but it always seems as though there is special meaning to the US riders in this one.

2007 TOUR DE GEORGIA

Stage 1: Monday, April 16 - Peachtree City to Macon, 97 miles (156 km)

Start 1 p.m. Expected finish 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

This stage is a gradual downhill run into Peachtree City. Profile shows only minor bumps along the way. Expect the sprinters to get their first shot here.

Stage 2: Tuesday, April 17 - Thomaston to Rome, 135 miles (217 km)

Start 11 a.m. Expected finish 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday adds a few smaller climbs, the profile does not show it as much of a climb but the finish is listed as being KOM (4), which I am assuming is the same as a Cat 4 climb. Another day for the sprinters or perhaps the breakaway.

Stage 3: Wednesday, April 18 - Rome to Chattanooga, Tenn. 118 miles (190 km)

Start Noon. Expected finish 4:15 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Now we are talking. Four categorized climbs, 2 Cat 4's a Cat 3 and then a Cat 2 with under 18 miles to go. Climbers will get to test their legs to day on the last climb before Thursdays TT climb of lookout mountain.

Stage 4: Thursday, April 19 - Chickamauga/Walker Co. to Lookout Mountain, 18.9 miles (30.4 km)

Time Trial
Expected finish 11:40 a.m. - 2 p.m. Individual cyclists depart in 1 minute intervals; final 10 riders depart in 2 minute intervals.

A time trail up one of the coolest mountains in the area. This will be a true test of the Time Trialers who can also climb vs. the Climbers who can also Time Trial. The 8-9 km section of the profile looks like you would need an elevator to get up it.

Stage 5: Friday, April 20 - Dalton to Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns Co, 107 miles (172 km)

Start 11 a.m. Expected finish 2:50 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Probably the most famous Stage of any Pro race in America right now. The climb up Brasstown Bald always has some fire works and it was here that last year Landis showed his form over a strong Levi L. and Tom D. Expect the big guns to let it all hang out here as huge chunks of time will handed out by the end. The Brasstown Bald climb makes Lookout Mtn look flat. It tops out over 4700 ft after starting out at a meager 2000ft to begin the climb. That's 2700 ft in under 10 km's. Just to get your legs warmed up though you can start the day with a Cat 2 right out of the gate and then a Cat 3 in the middle.

Stage 6: Saturday, April 21 - Lake Lanier Islands/ Hall Co. to Stone Mountain Park/Dekalb Co. 113.5 miles (183 km)

Start 11 a.m. Expected finish 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Fairly flat day for the legs to rest should make a great day for a breakaway to go the distance. If not it is definitely going to be a sprint finish.

Stage 7: Sunday, April 22 - Atlanta (circuit race) 77 miles (123.9 km)

Start 1 p.m. Expected finish 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The race wraps up with the typical circuit race around Atlanta. Should be great for the crowd to see all the big-time riders. Look for a win by one of the National teams in this, they have some great circuit riders looking to make a mark for themselves.

Here is a rundown on the teams and riders in this years edition.

Discovery
Tom Danielson
Levi Leipheimer
Gianni Meersman
Jason McCartney
Jose Luis Rubiera
Pavel Padrnos
George Hincapie
Brian Vandborg

Predictor-Lotto
Fred Rodriguez
Nicholas Gates
Christophe Brandt
Stefano Zanini
Dominique Cornu
Olivier Kaisen
Geert Steurs
Preben Van Hecke

Team CSC
David Zabriskie
Matthew Goss
Anders Lund
Michael Blaudzen
Kurt Asle Arvesen
Juan Jose Haedo
Martin Pedersen
Christian Vandevelde

Quick Step-Innergetic
Leonardo Scarselli
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Alessandro Proni
Hubert Schwab
Maarten Wynants
Andrea Tonti
Ivan Santaromita
Davide Vigano

Prodir-Saunier Duval
Gilberto Simoni
David Millar
David Canada
Rammert Wielinga
Javier Megias
Christophe Rinero
Rubens Bertogliati
Guido Trentin

Tinkoff Credit Systems
Tyler Hamilton
Elia Aggiano
Steffen Weigold
Daniele Contrini
Ruggero Marzoli
Pavel Brutt
Alexander Serov
Salvatore Commesso

Health Net
Nathan O'Neill
Doug Ollerenshaw
Jeff Louder
Ryder Hesjedal
Kirk O'Bee
Rory Sutherland
Karl Menzies
Tim Johnson

USA Cycling
John Devine
Brent Bookwalter
Sheldon Deeny
Caleb Fairly
Zachary Grabowski
Nick Reistad
Chris Stockburger
Chad Beyer

Navigators Insurance
Phil Zajicek
Oleg Grishkin
Sergey Lagutin
Glen Chadwick
Ciaran Power
Valeriy Kobzarenko
Ben Day
Viktor Rapinski

Team Slipstream
Danny Pate
Patrick McCarty
Blake Caldwell
Lucas Euser
Tom Peterson
Mike Lange
Jason Donald
Timmy Duggan

Toyota-United
Chris Baldwin
Durke Swindlehurst
Ivan Stevic
Ivan Dominguez
Henk Vogels
Chris Wherry
Justin England
Caleb Manion

BMC Racing Team
Scott Moninger
Scott Nydam
Alexandre Moos
Jonathan Garcia
Ian McKissick
Michael Sayers
Jackson Stewart
David Vitoria

Jittery Joe's
Trent Wilson
Neil Shirley
Austin King
Evan Elken
Tommy Nankervis
Chris Jongewaard
Cody Stevenson
Matt Shriver

Colavita/Sutter Home
Anthony Colby
Charles Dionne
Gustavo Artacho
Alejandro Acton
Tyler Wren
Davide McCann
Davide Frattini
Peter Hatton

Priority Health
Ben Jacques-Maynes
Omer Kem
Brian Sheedy
Scott Zwizanski
Edward King
Richard England
Garrett Peltonen
Emile Abraham

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Comments

Great Race...

I think this will be a great race. Is Simoni scheduled to start? He should be on good form before the Giro.

Of course I'll be routing for the hometown Jittery Joe's team. Too bad Caesar Gerales got hurt because he looked to be on good form.

My quick list of favorites:
Tom Danielson
Christian Vande Velde
David Millar
Tyler Hamilton
Ryder Hesjedal
Danny Pate
Scott Moninger
Alexandre Moos
Ben Jaques-Maynes

I think Justin England has been riding well (I think) and Peter Hatton should be familiar with the roads and should be able to climb.

by John.. on Apr 11, 2007 6:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No Leipheimer?

Leipheimer's not on your list of favorites?
I'm predicting a big set of rides for Slipstream...

This Post Brought to You By Hennie's Hordes:
We're not one of the other VDS teams

by TCWriter on Apr 11, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Levi

Obviously, he could win, but I'm guessing this isn't a big race for him like California was. I also think the team will be focused on supported Tom. I could be wrong.

by John.. on Apr 11, 2007 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Saunier

Looks like a pretty strong team that they're sending
Millar, Simoni, Wielinga's not half bad.

I'd say that, if Simoni's even on half of the form he's aiming for in the Giro, he'll pose a huge threat for the GC.
That said, Disco's gonna have the winner out of their ranks. Inter-squad battle, maybe?

Christian Vandevelde, Tyler Hamilton, Ryder Hesjedal will all be showing.

A bunch of riders will be showing themselves to try to appeal to the Pro-Tour teams. Ben Jacques-Maynes will certainly try to be big, with some of his recent wins.

by BDBrian on Apr 11, 2007 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Millar said he wants to win

the Tour OF Georgia a few weeks back. Should be a good race. Will there be live coverage of some sort?

Aside: I once wrote to the race director to complain about using "de" instead of the proper English equivalent. His response was that he tried to change it but it was too late now, it will always have the embarrassing American's-won't-know-it's-a-bike-race-if-it-doesn't-allude-to-the-TdF name. That very long hyphenated word is my way of putting it, not his.

by ghisallo on Apr 11, 2007 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tour DE Georgia was clever

Actually, I think it was clever for them to go with Tour de Georgia instead of Tour of Georgia. It may have helped play a role in making them better known, with the rising popularity of Lance Armstrong, than they otherwise would have been because they've never had the money that the Tour of California has had from the beginning. So they were right to use every trick in the book.

I don't see that there is anything embarrassing about the situation.

by Toyota on Apr 11, 2007 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Basically agree

It seems odd to hardcore fans, but in the States you do what you have to do to market racing. And "de" probably helped a lot of casual watchers figure out that it's a bike race. Tour of Georgia... could mean anything.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris... on Apr 12, 2007 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes,

it could mean anything, even a bike race, if you simply let everybody know it. I still think the "de" is corny. Anyways, I really don't care, just looking for an argument.

by ghisallo on Apr 12, 2007 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It could be worse..

The could refer to it as de Ronde Van Georgia...

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Mr Van P on Apr 12, 2007 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No live coverage

Not only will there not be any live TV coverage, it seems that Versus isn't even going to show any of it until the week after it's run. The hell?

by Sui Juris on Apr 11, 2007 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Millar

If I recall correctly he also said that he was aiming for a top-10 in Flanders. I don't recall exactly what place he finished in, but I'm pretty sure that I couldn't count to it on my fingers (and toes)

by Hons on Apr 11, 2007 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

JJ

The way Haedo's been riding in Europe, I boldly predict he'll win a sprint or two :)

by JohnSFO on Apr 11, 2007 7:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone going to see it?

I'll be in town for the last three stages.

by Sui Juris on Apr 11, 2007 8:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

North Georgia

I live in North Georgia, but I have some school and work commitments that will keep me from watching. When I went to Brasstown Bald a few years ago, I got a picture with Johan Bruyneel.

by John.. on Apr 11, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cesar Grajales

According to cyclingnew Cesar will be riding. Hopefully he will have his climbing legs back.

by John.. on Apr 11, 2007 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i stoppped caring

about this race the day that the idiot organizers picked to include tinkoff and exclude jelly belly. do cycling fans prefer watching dopers? if so, this is the race for you. why anyone wants to watch hamilton race at this point is beyond me.

by Lili on Apr 11, 2007 9:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

just jelly belly?

Or should we go through the list of the American Continental teams that will not be starting the TOGA:

Aerospace, Jelly Belly, Kelly Benefit, Nerac, KodakGallery.com, Rite Aid, Rock Racing, Successfulliving.com - and that's just the American teams - there's a whole bunch more North American teams that didn't get invites.

I'm not saying that any of these teams are entitled to starting spots, but considering that it's the biggest stage race in America along with TOCA, it seems logical to get some teams in there and maybe fill up the field a bit.

15 teams of 8 makes for a 120 rider field. 120. A UCI Hors Categorie stage race with 120 riders. It's absolutely ridiculous. Add those 8 teams, you get a 184 rider field. Appropriate.

Wonder why the other teams aren't going? Maybe it's the 15,000 dollar entry to get a Continental team into the race...at least that's what I've heard, because the ProTour teams don't come for free.

So yeah, Tinkoff is the least of TOGA's worries. Tinkoff is Tinkoff - but then again, what really is the difference between Tyler Hamilton and David Millar or even Gilberto Simoni or Davide Frattini or Scott Moninger or Phil Zajicek or Levi Leipheimer or Rory Sutherland or Kirk O'Bee or or or - and those are the riders that have been busted, let's not even go into riders that haven't been busted that are 'known' dopers.

So what's wrong with Hamilton? Is it because Hamilton wasn't apologetic and will deny till the day he dies, and will never ever confess? David Millar is such a hero because he 'fessed up AFTER getting busted. What a man of high principles and character. They're both filthy.

Hamilton was (maybe still is, who knows) a cheat. He did his time, what else can he do though? If we want to have lifetime bans on people, then we should throw everybody into the pot I guess.

Doping sucks. Cheaters suck. Jan Ullrich sucks.

It's late and I'm ranting.

As far as Jelly Belly goes, the US National Team changed their roster - Brice Jones and Nick Reistad will both be racing for the National Team at TOGA, so will Aerospace's Eric Keim.

And Forrest Gump said, "And that's all I have to say about that."

by jered on Apr 12, 2007 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The important stuff

Nice writeup, Clydesdale, but you left out the really important stuff: Waffle House is in charge of the pre-race hospitality food, which will help answer the question of whether anything there is edible outside of the hours of 1am to 4am. Dent Wizard is sponsoring the "Most Aggressive Rider" jersey. Clever.

by Sui Juris on Apr 11, 2007 11:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's Great stuff...

I actually saw the Waffle House Banner come up on the web site as I was looking to see the stages but did not make the connection. Wow that brings up tons of memories from very late nights / early mornings when I was in the army.

The Crystal Method

Race Calendar

by Clydesdale on Apr 12, 2007 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's pretty funny for a "Euro" to read

the sentiments on an American race. I for one, couldn't care less if there's a "de" or "of" in the title of a race. Nor do i care about the nationality of the riders, which must sound very strange to you guys. I can get very happy from the sight of Jens Voigt pulling it off again in Spain. The master of escapes is an übercyclist, who has no real competition in that field since Erik Dekker sadly had to end his career with a nasty crash in last year's tour DE france. :)

Yet, the only thing that counts is the line-up of the Georgia Tour (btw: i've got an updated startlist on cyclingfever.com), which is pretty good.
Just wish that a ProTour-team like Quickstep would take this race like a little more serious, their squad is hilariously bad. Not even a real teamleader in there, nor a sprinter. Bad show! This race has become quite important, even us "Euros" try to keep updated with this one! Go Tour de Georgia!

by DZI on Apr 12, 2007 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's nice to hear

and I would agree with you about supporting riders over nationality. I LOVED watching Jens take it home yesterday (and he's not even on my VDS team). By the same token, I'm heavily rooting for Cancellara and Gusev on Sunday and neither of them are on my team (though I would be alright with Boonen taking it. I've got to get some points out of April).

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Apr 13, 2007 9:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs