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Tour De Georgia Route Announced!

3K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  NC_Jim 
#1 ·
Wish I could be at this afternoon's press conference, but I am stuck here at the office :(

OFFICIAL ROUTE ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2004 DODGE TOUR DE GEORGIA

ATLANTA, Ga. (February 5, 2004) - Seven stages in six days, including
one individual time trial and 11 King of the Mountain (KOM)
competitions, will highlight the official route for this year's Dodge
Tour de Georgia, officials confirmed today. As the premier professional
cycling stage race in the United States, the Tour will begin in Macon,
Ga. on Tuesday, April 20 with Stage One and end in Alpharetta, Ga. on
Sunday, April 25 with a Stage Seven grand finale.

"This year we have modified the route to incorporate a challenging and
safe course for the world's finest professional cyclists, including an
individual time trial and a series of epic climbs. We have also focused
on creating exciting elements for spectators, while introducing new
communities across Georgia as part of this great event," said Stan Holm,
executive director of the Dodge Tour de Georgia. " We are anticipating a
world-class roster of teams and close to a million spectators over the
six days...truly, an unprecedented week of racing in North America."

Sixteen professional cycling teams from around the world are being
invited to participate in the Dodge Tour de Georgia, including teams
from the United States, Spain, Italy and France. The United States
Postal Service Pro-Cycling Team(r), presented by Berry Floor, will
compete in the Tour, led by five-time Tour de France champion Lance
Armstrong.

"It's a great event for the U.S. at just the right time, as the country
and the sport has been in dire need a first caliber international stage
race that the cycling community can rally around. Hopefully, year two
can be another stepping stone in building the Tour de Georgia into
America's greatest stage race," said USPS Pro Cycling Team Director of
Communications & Events Dan Osipow.

The 2004 edition of the Dodge Tour de Georgia will begin in Macon with
an 85-mile stage race. Last year a three-mile prologue was held for
Stage One, which is a traditional European-style format held the opening
day of a multi-day race.

The 2004 Dodge TdG - Stage-by-Stage:

- Stage One of this year's Dodge Tour de Georgia will begin and end in
Macon, taking the riders east to Georgia's Antebellum Capitol,
Milledgeville. Macon hosted the second stage in 2003.

- Stage Two will depart Wednesday from Thomaston, Ga., located about 30
miles west of Macon in Upson County. This stage will cover nearly 115
miles, taking the peloton to Columbus, Ga., with the first two KOM
climbs in the Callaway Gardens/Pine Mountain area. Columbus was a finish
city last year.

- An epic double-stage will be held on Thursday, April 22. In the
morning, Stage Three will begin in Carrollton and end in Rome, which
also hosted the Tour last year. Later that afternoon, Stage Four will
feature a 21-mile individual time trial from Rome.

- Stage Five will depart from Dalton on Friday, April 23, and will
include five KOM climbs en route to the finish in Dahlonega, site of
America's first major Gold Rush in 1828. The rush in 2004 will be from
spectators vying to enjoy the excitement from a variety of exciting
vantage points in the Southern Appalachians, as the peloton navigates
the famous climbs of the "Triple Gap" route used by local cyclists
(Neal's, Wolfpen and Woody gaps). This stage is one of the longest, with
128 miles to cover.

- The 2004 Tour Stage Six focuses on new territory with a departure from
Athens, Ga., which will assist the city in celebrating the 25th
anniversary of its famous Twilight Criterium, a weekend of bicycle races
and music. The Dodge Tour de Georgia will head back north from Athens to
Haiwassee/Young Harris on April 24, another 128-mile stage. There are
two KOM climbs on Saturday, one on the seven-mile assault up the
legendary Hogpen Gap in Union County. A mountaintop finish on Brasstown
Bald Mountain takes competitors to the highest spot in Georgia, 4,783
feet.

- Sunday, April 25, Stage Seven will begin in the foothills of the
mountains in Dawsonville, the home of NASCAR driver and Dodge icon Bill
Elliott. The race will continue south and finish with a four-mile
circuit Grand Finale on the streets of Alpharetta, Ga. At the conclusion
of the stage, awards will be presented for four jersey categories,
including Dodge Overall Leader, and the best team.



"USA Cycling is thrilled that the Tour de Georgia is returning for
another year. As the highest ranked stage race on North American soil,
the competitive racing and star-studded field of competitors will
showcase America's top cycling talent in a world-class event against
some of the planet's best athletes," said Gerard Bisceglia, Chief
Executive Officer of USA Cycling.

A route map for the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia will be posted at
www.tourdegeorgia.com. Additional route and elevation maps will be added
to the web site as details are announced. Information on an official
tour company and accommodations through local convention and visitors
bureaus will be added to the web site to assist spectators and visitors
who want to follow the Tour.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------

ABOUT THE DODGE TOUR DE GEORGIA
The Dodge Tour de Georgia is the largest multi-day stage race for
professional cyclists in North America, and serves as a rolling festival
to entertain and educate spectators across the state. It is sanctioned
by the UCI (2.3) and USAC (2.1) as a premier event for elite athletes
around the world. The Tour's official beneficiary is the Georgia Cancer
Coalition (GCC), raising funds and proactively promoting the objectives
of cancer education, prevention, early detection and treatment. For
2004, close to one million spectators are expected over the six days to
watch the races and participate in activities in local communities
across the state. Dodge is the title sponsor of the 2004 Tour de
Georgia. Additional information and news from Dodge is available on the
Internet at www.dodge.com. Updates regarding the 2004 Dodge Tour de
Georgia will be posted at the official website, www.tourdegeorgia.com.

ABOUT GCC
THE GEORGIA CANCER COALITION leads Georgia's comprehensive cancer
initiative, uniting people and organizations to work together to save
lives and reduce suffering from cancer. As a public-private partnership,
the Coalition works to strengthen existing cancer related programs and
create new initiatives that accelerate cancer prevention, early
detection, education, and leading edge research and treatment to make
the highest level of care accessible to all Georgians. Through
leadership and funding, the Georgia Cancer Coalition provides guidance
and assistance for using Georgia's resources in the fight to reverse the
cancer mortality and incidence rates. The Coalition is the first of its
kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model. MOBILIZING
GEORGIA. IMMOBILIZING CANCER.

ABOUT GPED and GDITT
The Georgia Partnership for Economic Development is a non-profit
foundation which operates as a public-private partnership with the
Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism in attracting new
business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry,
locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to
Georgia, promoting the state as a location for film and video projects,
as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic
development.
 
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#2 ·
I can not believe they are to race Brasstown Bald!!!

What a painfully, great idea!!! I already know where I am going to stand, right where I could hardly turn the cranks!

I can see several stages I will be attending. Can't wait.

Mike
 
#3 ·
profile

deadlegs said:
What a painfully, great idea!!! I already know where I am going to stand, right where I could hardly turn the cranks!

I can see several stages I will be attending. Can't wait.

Mike
Looks like a great course for the entire event. It'll be great to see Lance racing to win on domestic soil. I would figure that he will be racing to win as the race is in late April, a period of good form as the end of April has been a mini-peak for him historically since 1999.

Anybody have a profile for brasstown bald?
 
#4 ·
I think I have the profile, but it is at home.

I agree, it looks like each stage is going to be something else. And here in the USA. I hope things go well and we start having more events like this in the US.

I have only ridden to the top of Brasstown once and do not remember which computer I had on the bike at the time. I believe I had the one that recordds the profile though; I'll post later today if so. While I am pretty sure Brasstown is the steepest hill they will be on, I am looking forward to watching the riders on Wolfpen.

Deadlegs

Asiago said:
Looks like a great course for the entire event. It'll be great to see Lance racing to win on domestic soil. I would figure that he will be racing to win as the race is in late April, a period of good form as the end of April has been a mini-peak for him historically since 1999.

Anybody have a profile for brasstown bald?
 
#5 ·
Say I wanted to take in Thursday's action...

Where would I want to be for the 1st of the 2 stages on Thursday in order to make it to the end of the 2nd stage (finish of the TT)? I'm sure it's possible but being from NC, I have no idea how to make it work. Any info is welcome.

Thanks;
Jim
 
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