Tour of Georgia - 2.3

Georgia, USA, April 22-27, 2003

Main Page    Course Map    Start List    Results

Complete Live Report

Stage 1 - April 23: Augusta - Macon, 223km

Start time: 10:00 EDT
Estimated finish time: 15:30 EDT

Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of Stage 1 of the first ever Tour of Georgia. Today's race will take the peloton 223 kilometers from Augusta to Macon on a rolling course until they arrive Macon, where the riders will navigate a circuit that includes the steep Coleman Hill three times.  The riders arrived at the start line today, where race leader, Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) received his yellow jersey.  O'Neill told Cyclingnews "I'm elated, it feels so nice to be on a great team like Saturn after a tough couple of years in Italy."

Weather report: Once again, it is another beautiful, sunny morning in southern Georgia today as we prepare for Stage 1 of the first annual Dodge Tour de Georgia. 

The race got underway on time at 10:00am EST.  The race started with three opening laps of a three mile loop through downtown Augusta, that contained sprints at the end of each lap.  Henk Vogels (Navigators) took the first sprint of the day.  Fred Rodriguez (Vini Caldirola-Sidermec) crashed at the end of the first lap and had to get towed back on to the bunch by a teammate.  Counterattacking the sprint, was Trent Wilson (Flanders iTeam Nova) taking Troy White (Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar) with him opening up a gap of 30 seconds. 

10:29 EDT
7UP-Maxxis seem to be riding tempo in an effort to keep the race together for the approaching time bonus sprint.  Greg Henderson from 7UP currently sits four seconds behind race leader O'Neill, making these bonus seconds important to him.

10:30:  7-UP's steady pace at the front brought the breakaway back and the bunch is now riding tempo enjoying the spring morning.

11:34 EDT
The first time bonus sprint in front of the Laurel and Hardy museum in Harlem was won by Chris Horner (Saturn)  He receives a bonus of three seconds, moving him to within one second of his teammate.  Henderson got second in the sprint, gaining two seconds on the leader.  The riders didn't appear to be taking the sprint too seriously.  It wasn't a full on sprint and they seemed to be joking around a bit.

Flanders iTeam Nova has been the most aggressive to this point, trying to make things happen, but the roads so far have been wide open making it difficult for attacks to succeed.  As soon as the road narrows and the hills come, it will be a different story.  7UP-Maxxis have been trying to control things and keep the tempo at the front. 

The next time bonus sprint comes in the town of Warrenton, 21 miles from now, which is 53 miles into the race. 

12:30 EDT
For those folks patiently awaiting a race update, our intrepid reporter is in transit between Augusta and Macon, and we'll be bringing the latest news as soon as we can. After the Warrenton sprint the riders will get to the race's only feed zone in Sparta, Georgia. Let's hope their feeds aren't Spartan!

13:07 EDT
The second sprint in the town of Warrenville was won by Miguel Meza (Schroder Iron), who just edged out Vogels on a fast downhill sprint.

14:07 EDT
Nieko Biskner (Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar) is currently out front on a solo breakaway. Biskner is a very strong up and coming rider who came from the Saturn Development squad last year. Through the feed zone at the 126k mark, Biskner had his largest gap of 6'45".

Currently Biskner has a gap of 3'30" on the field, however Jurgen Landrie (Flanders - Iteamnova) has initiated a solo attack from the break and currently sits 1'30" behind Biskner.

Landrie is making up time to Biskner rather quickly. He is an excellent climber and should make contact with Biskner soon and likely pass him.

14:15 EDT
With that time gap, Biskner is currently the leader on the road... for now.

Saturn is riding tempo at the front of the field maintaining a manageable gap. There is a slight headwind coming from the Northwest, and some significant action is expected to occur heading into the third sprint in the town of Milledgeville.

14:20 EDT
Heading into the Milledgeville sprint, the field has begun to wind up the tempo, and a fading Biskner is soon to be caught.

Biskner, however, maintains his solo effort to take the sprint. The fast moving peloton has swallowed up Landrie and his effort to bridge the gap, but not before Landrie manages to take the second place sprint bonus seconds. Miguel Meza takes third in the sprint and is now the sprint classification leader.

14:23 EDT
At kilometer 166, Bisker is caught by the group after a 40 mile solo effort. An immediate counter attack by Laurens Ten Dam of the Dutch National team has has created a solo breakaway. Ten Dam now has 30 seconds on the field.

14:29 EDT
Endurance should soon become a factor, there are very few races of this distance in the US, and those teams with Euro racing in their legs may have an advantage...

14:35 EDT
Ten Dam is maintaining his 30 second gap on the field which is being patrolled by Saturn.
We are now 20 miles outside of Macon where the three laps of a technical finishing circuit will begin. The field is a little nervous about the technicality of the circuits. There has not been much racing so far with all of the key players keeping an eye on each other, and letting solo moves by young riders go.

Saturn are setting the tempo at the front. The wind will likely prevent any successful solo breaks. The terrain is never flat, and is constantly going up or down - undulating, in fact. The action will likely become a little more animated once the group hits the finishing circuits.

14:45 EDT
Laurens Ten Dam has flatted at 25k to go. It took Ten Dam, who had a 45 second lead on the field, 30 seconds to get a wheel change. Realizing the impending contact from the field, he has sat up and rejoined the peloton.We have just crossed Commissioner Creek over into Jones County on a perfect day for bike racing. Saturn are again at the front controlling the pace, cruising along at about 23 MPH.

Once we arrive at the finishing circuits, there will be three laps of a technical two mile loop, each time climbing Coleman Hill for KOM points.

15:08 EDT
Another solo effort has gone away, this time it's Jonathon Erdelyi (Ofoto Lombari Sports). He managed to open up a gap of about 30 seconds, but like every other solo break today, it was doomed. He was absorbed by the Saturn-led pack after 8 miles.

15:12 EDT
An attack by Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) has created a small decent breakaway. Going with Pate is David de la Fuente (Vini Caldirola-Sidermec), Ben Brooks (Jelly Belly) and Jonathon Erdelyi (Ofoto Lombari Sports). The break has opened up a gap of about 200 meters are are driving it hard. However, the Saturn riders are still at the front of the field pulling it back quickly.

15:17 EDT
The group has made contact, and Matt DeCanio (Prime Alliance) has now tried his hand with a furious attack. He is in the right gutter, just pounding away. DeCanio was successful with a similar tactic two weeks ago, winning the Sea Otter Classic Road Race with a solo effort near the end of the race. But today it's not working, as Saturn reel him back into the peloton.

15:18 EDT
And once again, DeCanio attacks! Prime Alliance have now moved to the front of the peloton in the effort to protect his small gap. It is shaping up to be a battle between Prime Alliance and Saturn at the moment, and it looks as though DeCanio's second effort will not last either.

15:20 EDT
The group is now moving considerably faster through the narrow twisty roads leading into the finishing circuit. The group is all together again now, and the racing is becoming very aggressive.

15:28 EDT
With three climbs up Coleman Hill, look for the climbers in the field to make some moves. Michael Barry and Roland Green (US Postal Service - Berry Floor), Tom Danielson and Chris Horner (Saturn), Jonathon Vaughters (Prime Alliance), Chris Wherry (Navigators), Jurgen Landrie (Flanders iTeam Nova) Jason McCartney (7UP-Maxxis) are all excellent climbers.

15:33 EDT
There is a lot of attacking now, and the pace is aggressive. Without a dominant sprinter on their squad, Prime Alliance are trying unsuccessfully to get a rider away , but it looks as though it is going to be a bunch sprint for the finish.

15:36 EDT
Massimiliano Mori (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave') has crashed and has managed to get back to the group. 2k to go, the attacks keep going, but nothing sticks.

15:38 EDT
A close photo finish! Henk Vogels (Navigators) won a photo finish in a tremendous power sprint over Meza. He also takes over the sprint classification jersey.

Thankyou for following Stage 1 of the Tour of Georgia live with Cyclingnews. Results and report will follow. Don't forget to tune in again tomorrow for Stage 2, 199k from Macon to Columbus.

Results

Unofficial

Mail the commentary team    Results