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Tour of Georgia - 2.3
Georgia, USA, April 20-25, 2004
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Stage 4 : April 22 - Rome - Rome TT, 29.9 km
Armstrong takes command
A good day's work: Armstrong wins second stage of the day
By Tim Maloney, European editor, in Rome, Georgia
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In a dazzling display of virtuoso bicycle racing, five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) showed why the challengers to his throne this year should be afraid, very afraid. After his surprise sprint win in Thursday's morning stage, Armstrong powered to a solid time trial win on the testing out and back course in Rome 22 seconds ahead of CSC's Jens Voigt to take over the yellow jersey of race leadership in the Georgia tour from Colavita-Bolla's Ivan Dominguez.
Afterwards, Armstrong said, "I went all-out today and am very happy to win here. The next few days should be tough." Runner-up today and now second on GC, Jens Voigt (CSC) was pleased with his ride. "It was a good result for us today and to come in second to Lance Armstrong is not bad at all," said the likeable Voigt. With Voigt's American teammate Bobby Julich fourth in today's TT and also fourth on GC, plus the lead in team GC, the CSC riders must try and put the squeeze on Lance and his Blue Train in the next two stages across the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia.
Although he looks ten years younger, 32 year old Chris Horner (Webcor Builders) rides like the experienced, seasoned pro he is. Wearing dossard number one of the defending Tour of Georgia champion, Horner set a fast intermediate time and went on to take an excellent third place, 45 seconds behind Armstrong. Horner told Cyclingnews, "I just got this TT bike and it's not dialed in yet... if the position was right, I could have gone 30 seconds faster." And the always brash Horner may have the legs to back up his podium promise today that, "I've been winning all year and I'm not done yet." The freckle-faced Horner wouldn't reveal his strategy in the next two stages other than to say, "you'll see in the mountains."
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USPS-Berry Floor director Johan Bruyneel was obviously pleased with his main man's performance today, but the always level-headed Bruyneel didn't get ahead of himself even after the remarkable day. "It's a very good day for us today... our focus here was the time trial. This morning, we just wanted to stay out of trouble because we knew that the circuits had a tricky climb. Lance won the morning stage and then the time trial so it cannot be better."
Speaking of Lance's TT performance, Bruyneel praised Armstrong, saying, "he rode very smart; he started very well and then slowed down in the kilometer before the climb so he could go up steadily. He put in time on Voigt all the way through so it was a very good time trial for Lance."
With three stages left in the Tour de Georgia, Bruyneel analyzed the competition and the parcours with the win in mind for Lance. "Friday's [stage five] is probably the hardest for a team to control. And Saturday's stage has a very hard finish. But there are not so many contenders, so it's not like you have to watch the whole peloton. Horner, Julich and Voight are the main threats in my opinion." But even after all the big wins Lance Armstrong has racked up in the USA, from the US amateur championship in 1990, to the Million Dollar Triple Crown in 1992 and even his last Stateside win in the 1998 Cascade Classic in Oregon, Lance Armstrong still has only one goal in mind for 2004: win six consecutive Tours de France.
Lewis stable after crash
Today's stage was marred by accident when 19 year old Craig Lewis of the US national under-23 team was hit by an SUV that had been driven on to the course.
Lewis sustained concussion and broken ribs in the crash, according to the race medical communiqué, and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Rome's Floyd Medical Center. A spokesperson for the Center told Cyclingnews that Lewis' condition was stable.
According to the Rome News-Tribune, police said the driver of the SUV, Edgar Bishop, 65, was trying to turn into the American Legion parking lot when he hit Lewis. Bishop was charged with failing to yield right of way.
Stage 5 - April 23: Dalton-Dahlonega, 224km
The queen stage of the race, this 220+ kilometer romp across the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia promises to be a battle royal between USPS-Berry Floor and CSC. First on the day's menu is an 12km ascent up Fort Mtn to 877m, then a plunge down to Ellijay and across the ups and downs of the north Georgia hills.
Once into Union County after 126km of racing, the Tour of Georgia's Stage five hits the "Three Gaps" circuit. First, there's a steepish climb up to Woody Gap (975m) after 144km, then a descent to the 2nd feed zone. Another climb up the narrow climb of Neel's Gap (975m) is followed by the penultimate climb up the steep Wolfpen Gap (1019m) at 185km. This is followed by the second ascent of Woody Gap after 200km and then a 20km descent into Dahlonega. This stage should separate the contenders from the pretenders once and for all at the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia.
Photography
Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com
- Ivan Dominguez (Colavita) lost the leader jersey despite a brave effort in the TT
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal) was asking roadside fans "Where's Voigt? Where's Voigt?" as he chased his minute man.
- Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) seemed to be taking it fairly easy in an event that's far from his specialty.
- Gordon Fraser (Health Net) working hard in the time trial
- Chris Horner (Webcor) doesn't plan on settling for third.
Images by Bob Badalucco/www.bbactionphoto.com
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal) put on a display of the TT power that has helped carry him to five Tour de France wins
- Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) wasn't the fastest rider on the TT course, but one of the most popular with the fans
Images by Jonathan Devich/www.epicimages.us
- Henk Vogels - still working on getting his form back after his terrible crash last year.
- France's Jacky Durand works hard during the TT.
- Adam Bergman fought hard to finish in the top 20 today.
- Damon Kluck conserves some energy today to help the team in the mountains.
- Saeco rider Salvatore Commesso wasn't too worried about placing today and left of the aero bars.
- Ofoto rider Eric Saunders.
- Kirk Albers of Jelly Belly focuses on the yellow line to get him to the finish.
- USPS strongman Tony Cruz.
- Chris Horner out of the saddle during his third place ride today.
- George Hincapie put in a strong ride today to round out the top 10.
- Bobby Julich rode hard today to a fourth place finish.
- Gord Fraser gave it all during the TT but fell in GC.
- Second place rider Jens Voigt showing great position on the bike.
- Mario Cipollini rides just fast enough to finish off the day.
- Race leader for a stage Ivan Dominguez.
- Mario Cipollini acknowledges fans as he crosses the TT finish line.
- Lance Armstrong shows off the new TT bike and smokes the course.
- Lance Armstrong crosses the line with the fastest time.
- The podium - Lance Armstrong first, Jens Voight second and Chris Horner third.
- Lance Armstrong looking happy to be in yellow again.
Results
1 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 39.52 2 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 0.22 3 Chris Horner (USA) Webcor Builders 0.45 4 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 1.00 5 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC 1.24 6 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 1.25 7 Jason McCartney (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 1.27 8 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance 1.31 9 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada Cycling 1.33 10 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 1.43 11 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 2.21 12 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 2.24 13 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance 2.26 14 Danny Pate (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 2.37 15 John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 2.45 16 Thad Dulin (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 2.46 17 Sergio Marinangeli (Ita) Domina Vacanze 2.57 18 Dominique Perras (Can) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 2.58 19 Adam Bergman (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 3.17 20 Cesar Grajales Calle (Col) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 3.18 21 William Frischkorn (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 3.21 22 Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 23 Alessio Galletti (Ita) Domina Vacanze 3.27 24 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 3.41 25 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance 3.44 26 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance 3.48 27 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 3.49 28 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Sierra Nevada Cycling 29 Gordon Fraser (Can) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 30 Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 3.52 31 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark 3.55 32 Timothy Duggan (USA) USA National 33 Maximilian Sciandri (GBr) Team CSC 34 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 3.59 35 Jason Bausch (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 4.10 36 Todd Herriott (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 4.11 37 Mario Scirea (Ita) Domina Vacanze 4.12 38 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Navigators Insurance 4.13 39 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 4.14 40 Sean Sullivan (Aus) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 41 Jacky Durand (Fra) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 4.17 42 Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Insurance 4.18 43 Jimmi Madsen (Den) Team CSC 44 Ivan Ravaioli (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 4.21 45 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 4.23 46 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 4.25 47 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 4.26 48 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance 4.28 49 Christopher Pic (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 4.30 50 Daniel Rincon (Col) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 4.33 51 Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 4.35 52 Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 4.37 53 Ernesto Lechuga (Mex) Jelly Belly/Aramark 4.41 54 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 4.43 55 Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 56 Justin England (USA) Webcor Builders 4.44 57 Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 58 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 4.46 59 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 4.47 60 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saeco-Saunier Duval 61 James Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders 4.49 62 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance 4.54 63 Benjamin Haldeman (USA) Webcor Builders 4.57 64 Nieko Biskner (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 65 Blake Caldwell (USA) USA National 5.00 66 Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) USA National 5.05 67 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Domina Vacanze 5.08 68 Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Domina Vacanze 5.09 69 Daniel Bowman (USA) USA National 5.10 70 Marc Hagenlocher (USA) Webcor Builders 5.12 71 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark 5.13 72 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 5.15 73 Tim Johnson (USA) Saeco-Saunier Duval 5.19 74 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 5.22 75 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Domina Vacanze 5.27 76 Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor Builders 5.30 77 Colby Pearce (USA) USA National 5.31 78 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 5.32 79 David Clinger (USA) Domina Vacanze 80 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Domina Vacanze 5.38 81 Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 5.43 82 Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) Team CSC 83 Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 5.45 84 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval 5.50 85 David George (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 5.51 86 Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 5.55 87 Jonathan Sundt (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 88 Antonio Bucciero (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval 5.58 89 Imanol Ayestaran Odriozola (Spa) Webcor Builders 6.01 90 James Schneider (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 6.04 91 Mikhail Timochine (Rus) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 6.13 92 Russell Hamby (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 6.18 93 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 6.22 94 Stuart Gillespie (USA) USA National 6.24 95 Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 6.30 96 Paul Ellis (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 6.31 97 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 6.35 98 Michael Creed (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 6.37 99 Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 6.41 100 Matt Dubberley (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 6.47 101 Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 6.54 102 John Murphy (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 7.01 103 Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval 7.05 104 Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 7.29 105 Jason Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 106 James Lewis Perry (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 7.35 107 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 7.39 108 Peter Lopinto (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 7.46 Teams 1 Team CSC 34.06.34 2 US Postal Service Presented By Berry Floor 0.22 3 Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented By Maxxis 3.42 4 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 4.55 5 Sierra Nevada Cycling 6.25 6 Colavita Olive Oil Pro Cycling Team Presented By Bolla Wines 6.42 7 Webcor Cycling Team 7.32 8 Domina Vacanze 7.50 9 Ofoto Cycling Team 8.14 10 Jelly Belly-Aramark 9.07 11 The Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 9.27 12 Team Barloworld - Androni Giocattoli 10.03 13 USA National 11.14 14 Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 12.15 15 Saeco-Saunier Duval-Prodir/Mixed Team 13.10 General classification after stage 4 1 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 11.21.10 2 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 0.24 3 Chris Horner (USA) Webcor Builders 0.51 4 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 1.06 5 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC 1.30 6 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 1.31 7 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance 1.37 8 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada Cycling 1.39 9 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 1.49 10 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 2.27 11 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance 2.32 12 Danny Pate (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 2.43 13 John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 2.51 14 Thad Dulin (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 2.52 15 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 2.59 16 Sergio Marinangeli (Ita) Domina Vacanze 3.03 17 Dominique Perras (Can) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 3.04 18 Adam Bergman (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 3.23 19 Cesar Grajales Calle (Col) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 3.24 20 William Frischkorn (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 3.27 21 Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 22 Gordon Fraser (Can) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 3.40 23 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 3.47 24 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance 3.50 25 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 3.55 26 Alessio Galletti (Ita) Domina Vacanze 3.58 27 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark 3.59 28 Timothy Duggan (USA) USA National 4.01 29 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 4.05 30 Mario Scirea (Ita) Domina Vacanze 4.18 31 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 4.20 32 Jimmi Madsen (Den) Team CSC 4.24 33 Maximilian Sciandri (GBr) Team CSC 4.26 34 Ivan Ravaioli (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 4.27 35 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 4.29 36 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 4.31 37 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance 4.34 38 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 4.36 39 Daniel Rincon (Col) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 4.39 40 Todd Herriott (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 4.42 41 Ernesto Lechuga (Mex) Jelly Belly/Aramark 4.47 42 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 4.49 43 Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 44 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saeco-Saunier Duval 4.53 45 James Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders 4.55 46 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance 5.00 47 Nieko Biskner (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 5.03 48 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance 49 Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 5.06 50 Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 5.12 51 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Sierra Nevada Cycling 5.20 52 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 5.21 53 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 5.22 54 Tim Johnson (USA) Saeco-Saunier Duval 5.25 55 Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 5.30 56 Justin England (USA) Webcor Builders 5.32 57 Jacky Durand (Fra) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 58 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Domina Vacanze 5.33 59 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Domina Vacanze 5.34 60 Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor Builders 5.36 61 David Clinger (USA) Domina Vacanze 5.38 62 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark 5.44 63 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Navigators Insurance 64 Sean Sullivan (Aus) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 5.50 65 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 5.53 66 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Domina Vacanze 5.54 67 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval 5.56 68 Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) USA National 5.57 69 Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 6.01 70 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 6.02 71 Colby Pearce (USA) USA National 72 Daniel Bowman (USA) USA National 73 Antonio Bucciero (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval 6.04 74 Imanol Ayestaran Odriozola (Spa) Webcor Builders 6.07 75 Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 6.18 76 David George (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 6.22 77 Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) Team CSC 78 Russell Hamby (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 6.24 79 Benjamin Haldeman (USA) Webcor Builders 6.33 80 Michael Creed (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 6.43 81 Marc Hagenlocher (USA) Webcor Builders 6.46 82 Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Insurance 6.49 83 Jason Bausch (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 84 Blake Caldwell (USA) USA National 7.03 85 Stuart Gillespie (USA) USA National 7.10 86 James Schneider (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 7.21 87 Mikhail Timochine (Rus) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 7.24 88 Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 7.35 89 Jason Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 90 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 7.46 91 Paul Ellis (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 8.13 92 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines 8.39 93 Matt Dubberley (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling 94 Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 8.44 95 Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark 8.56 96 Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 8.59 97 Christopher Pic (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 98 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago 9.29 99 John Murphy (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 9.32 100 Jason McCartney (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 10.05 101 Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Domina Vacanze 10.31 102 Peter Lopinto (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 10.52 103 Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval 11.15 104 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 12.25 105 Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 12.33 106 Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports 12.52 107 James Lewis Perry (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli 12.57 108 Jonathan Sundt (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee 16.15
