Tour of Georgia - 2.3

Georgia, USA, April 22-27, 2003

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Complete Live Report

Stage 2 - April 24: Macon - Columbus, 202km

Start time: 12:30 EDT
Estimated finish time: 17:00 EDT

Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of Stage 2 of the first ever Tour of Georgia, Macon to Columbus. Today's race will cover 202km across the undulating Georgian countryside, with two opportunities to gain sprint points, at Thomaston (74.8 km) and Warm Springs (123 km). Current race leader Henk Vogels (Navigators) and Miguel Meza (Schroeder Iron) are tied for first place in the sprint competition. Saturn's Chris Horner leads the King of the Mountains (KOM) competition, and he'll be attempting to add to his points total at Warm Springs, just after the sprint at 126.2km, in a 4.7km climb averaging 4% gradient.

Weather report: It's a fine but slightly hazy day today in southern Georgia today as we prepare for Stage 2 of the first annual Dodge Tour de Georgia. 

12:42 EDT
The race is underway and the riders have just departed Macon, Georgia, heading out of town via the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and up Cathedral Hill. At the start line the National Anthem was sung by Chuck Leavell, as the crowd lined the streets.

12:47 EDT
Henk Vogels (Navigators) was surrounded by media and looking confident going into the stage. Freddy Rodriguez and his Vini Caldirola - Sidermec teammate, Gabrielle Balducci, were anxious to make a mark today as well, feeling that they have good form right now. Rodriguez will be looking to redeem himself after he received a penalty yesterday for motorpacing and crashing twice.

If yesterday is any indication, piano will be the pace for this ealy section of the race today as the peloton heads into another long stage.

12:52 EDT
To give you an idea on the finish of the race, the final few kilometres are quite tricky and cover some red brick style pave with a very sharp right hand turn right before the end which could indeed create an intense bagarre!

13:02 EDT
It seems the start to the race was more active than expected today. Just out of town Nathan O'Neill attacked, seemingly to test Navigators a little. Navigators were right on the move putting two guys into the break that went. Also joining the group were Scott Guyton (Flanders - Iteamnova), Svein Tuft (Prime Alliance) and Greg Henderson (7UP - Maxxis).

The group got a gap of 15seconds and held it for about 10km, before chasing by US Postal-Berry Floor and Rabobank reeled it back in. So, an active start as the riders head into the heart of middle Georgia!

14:00 EDT
Our reporter on the scene is again experiencing a few difficulties connecting to us from the wilds of southern Georgia, we'll be bringing you another live update very soon. In the meantime, one of our readers has asked about the word 'bagarre', which is actually a French word for 'battle', or translated into cycling terms - a series of attacks.

14:15 EDT
The first hour of the race was definitely very aggressive as the riders covered 50km. Saturn were trying to work Navigators over and they have successfully done that now.

A break has formed of three riders, Phil Zajicek (Saturn), Troy White (Sierra Nevada -Clif Bar), Eric Saunders (Ofoto- Lombardi sports). The break had created a gap of 1'30" by the Thomaston sprint. Zajicek won the sprint and is now leader on the road. Navigators are chasing but the riders in the break are sharing the work evenly and making good time.

14:24 EDT
Mike Neel, Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar manager, has successfully put one of his riders in the break again. The riders are now heading for the next sprint at the Little White House, which was the home of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

14:42 EDT
The Little White House sprint will take place near Warm Springs, GA, at the 123km mark of the race. One of our readers, Steve Hill, informs us that the terrain around Warm Springs is definitely not flat. "There are a bunch of good rollers there, so if the break is tough, they can get a good head of steam going." Or will the peloton chase them down? Stay tuned.

15:09 EDT
The break has been caught as the race heads into to Manchester. The three were working well together, Zajicek seemed to be cramping a little, however Navigators just had too good a pace in the chase. Of course Navigators are straight back from a good few races in Europe and it's showing with their consistent strength.

Saturn's team director, Andrzej Bek, commented that the break really needed a few more guys with it for it to succeed.

There are now 6km to the next sprint, at 126km. The average speed of the race has been fast at 48km/hour in part due to quite a good tail wind. The weather is holding out and there is some sun in the sky.

15:14 EDT
Saturn will probably be out to take a time bonus in the sprint, with O'Neill only one second behind Vogels on GC, and Chris Horner three seconds behind.

15:30 EDT
The sprint at The Little White House was won by Chris Horner, followed by Greg Henderson (7up - Maxxis). Those three seconds could make Horner an equal leader on the road.

Immediately after the spint, the road started rising gradually into the steady climb at Warm Springs heading into the KOM. The pace on the climb was too strong for some as a group of about 30 riders fell off the back. It looks like Massimiliano Mori (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave') has taken the KOM.

15:35 EDT
We are now 61 kilometers from the finish in Columbus.

15:40 EDT
Thanks to all of the knowledgeable people who've pointed out that 'piano' actually means 'softly' in Italian. I guess we're now all pretty clear about what it means to go 'piano'? (Really, thanks)!

15:43 EDT
The race is all back together now, and it was Navigators job to chase the break to protect their leader. The other teams in the race appear to be waiting for the more challenging (that is, bigger hill) days. The course profile favors a field sprint finish today where the three leaders will be fighting it out for precious time bonuses.

But look out for the other favored sprinters in the peloton such as Fred Rodriguez (Vini Caldirola-Sidermec), Miguel Meza (Schroeder Iron) and Antonio Cruz (US Postal-Berry Floor).

15:47 EDT
Kenny Labbe (US Postal-Berry Floor) has become the first rider to abandon the race. Interestingly enough, Kenny Labbe actually works as a letter carrier in Chicago, IL.

16:05 EDT
It's only 25km to go now in Stage 2. Following the KOM won by Mori (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave'), Russell Hamby (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) attacked solo and opened up a gap of 40 seconds. There was no reaction from the bunch until Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) attacked in an attempt to bridge to Hamby, causing Navigators to chase. The peloton has swallowed up both riders and attacks continue from the bunch.

16:14 EDT
With less than 25 kilometers to the finish, Saturn and 7UP-Maxxis have both been very active, putting the pressure on Navigators and making them work hard to defend Vogels lead. Jason McCartney (7UP-Maxxis) has managed to get away alone. He currently has a 20 second gap.

16:16 EDT
His lead has grown to 30 seconds. McCartney has been injured a lot this year. He is a strong rider, and his move is probably an attempt to set up his teammate, John Lieswyn, for a counter attack near the end.

16:18 EDT
Navigators seem to be letting him hang out there right now with about 20k to go. The finish, like yesterday, is very technical and would suit a solo break.

16:20 EDT 185km/15km to go
There are big crowds today with a lot of people in the metro Columbus area out to support the riders. McCartney continues to hold his 30 second lead, he is just hammering away in a solid solo effort.

16:25 EDT
As we have said before, the finish is very technical until we get to a long 2k straightaway along the Chattahoochee River and through the old commercial district of Columbus. The road is a combination of red brick and asphalt, which is almost like a Belgian pave. This is going to make a difference and could favor good technical riders with strength. The 2km straight leads into the last turn at 500 meters to go.

McCartney's gap is now beginning to shrink and is now only a matter of time until he is consumed.

16:28 EDT 192km/10km to go
The road is now beginning to widen and it descends all the way down to the river. Navigators continues to ride tempo on the front, but are not pushing it too hard.

Their team car is in trouble at the moment with a mechanical problem of its own. The riders are relying on Mavic neutral support.

16:32 EDT 194km/8km to go
McCartney has now been caught and the group is all together. Vini Caldirola-Sidermec is at the front, perhaps winding it up for Fast Freddy Rodriguez. Prime Alliance are also moving up to the front of the bunch.

16:37 EDT 199km/3km to go
Vini Caldirola-Sidermec and Prime Alliance seem to be setting up their trains.. Saturn is sitting back a bit.

16:41 EDT 201km/1km to go
The wind is coming from the riders' left side, and they're winding it up for the finishing sprint.

16:42 EDT 202km/0km to go
And the finish is...Moreno Dibiase (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave') takes the win ahead of Rodriguez and Vogels.

Henk Vogels (Navigators) will hold on to the sprint for another day.

Chris Horner seemed to have suffered a flat in the last kilometer, perhaps due to the red brick, we're not yet sure as to whether he will lose time.

Results

1 Moreno Dibiase (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave'
2 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Vini Caldirola-Sidermec
3 Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators

Thanks to all of you who followed Stage 2 of the Tour de Georgia live on Cyclingnews today. Full results, report and photos will be available soon, and be sure to check back again tomorrow for Stage 3, Pine Mountain to Rome, another long stage at 222km.

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