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Dauphiné Libéré
Photo ©: Sirotti

Tour of Georgia - 2.3

Georgia, USA, April 20-25, 2004

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Stage 1 : April 20 - Macon - Macon, 132.2 km

Fraser flashes to win in Macon

By Tim Maloney in Macon, Georgia

Gord Fraser takes a comfortable win
Photo ©: Jon Devich

On a hot, muggy late spring day, 35 year old Canadian sprinter Gord "Flash Gordon" Fraser (Health Net) rocketed to victory on Macon's Cherry Street, proving that an old dog can still ride to victory when the moment presents. Although many thought super sprinter Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) would be the man to beat in Macon, Fraser's criterium expertise gave him the decisive advantage on the four 3.4km finishing circuits. With Canadian Olympic selector Pierre Hutesbaut looking on, Fraser bested Cuban Ivan Dominguez (Colavita) and Jens Voigt in the mad dash to the line this afternoon.

"This bodes well for me," said Fraser. "To beat one of the top sprinters in the world [Cipollini] is great." Fraser also spoke of his Olympic ambitions for Athens, where the speedy Canadian may be a contender on the hot, urban streets next August. With his one second intermediate sprint bonus points and a ten second bonus at the line, Fraser is now atop the general classification at the Dodge Tour de Georgia.

Just behind Fraser in today's rush to the line was Cuban missile Dominguez. "I'm happy with the way things went today; I was just behind Gord, but he was too fast today," said Dominguez. Dominguez was happy to have finished ahead of Cipo as well, but seemed a little perplexed at what happened to the Domina man. "[Cipo] was there for the first two laps, but I didn't see him at the end."

The streets were full
Photo ©: Jon Devich

Third on the stage was CSC's multi-purpose German Jens Voigt, who isn't usually known as a sprinter. "On my old team [Credit Agricole] we had two good sprinters [O'Grady and Hushhovd] but at CSC we really don't have a specialist," Voigt said. "I can sprint a little too; I can climb and time-trial... like a multi-purpose rider. Already this year at Majorca, I was getting some good top ten finishes."

Voigt's four second time bonus puts the powerhouse German in a great position for Thursday's time trial, where he may be able to ride behind Armstrong's split times. "Today I'm happy that I was able to gain four seconds on Lance; it's better that way from having to get the time back from him!" As for Armstrong, the 132km stage was his first competition in three weeks. "Everything went well today and it's nice to be racing in the States again," he said. "I feel strong and everything is on course for me."

How it unfolded

Breakaway riders
Photo ©: Jon Devich

Starting in Macon at 12:30, the peloton rolled due east out of town across the Ocmulgee River. It was like the first day of summer; hot and muggy, so the peloton took it easy for a while until the attacks started a few kilometers out of town. After move by Chris Horner (Webcor Builders) was quickly covered, Ofoto's Tim Larkin made a counter-move after 10km, and was joined by Marc Hagenlocher (Webcor). On the hot afternoon across the verdant heart of Georgia, the duo were not pursued and at the Millidgeville sprint after 57km, the time gap was almost eight minutes. Larkin took the three second bonus and was virtual race leader, while Fraser took the sprint for third and a one second bonus.

After the feed zone on the other side of Millidgeville, Domina Vacanze hit the front and were joined by Landbouwkrediet-Colnago and Health Net in the chase across the wide-open central Georgia rollers. Just outside Macon with 20km to go, Larkin and Hagenlocher were brought to heel and it was showtime as the peloton hit downtown Macon for almost four laps of the tough 3.4km finishing circuit. After a few tentative moves by Trent Klasna (Sierra Nevada), Mikhail Timochine (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) and Juan Jose Cobo (Saeco/Saunier Duval-Prodir), Eric Wohlberg (Sierra Nevada) made a gutsy last-lap move on the brick climb of High Street. Wohlberg's attack blew things apart and cooked Cipo and company, who were just not used to the American style criterium finishing circuits.

Stage 2 - April 21: Thomaston-Columbus, 189km

This stage heads west from Thomaston across the red clay and pine festooned rollers of western Georgia, passing through Warm Springs and Callaway Gardens before running south to Columbus. With one sprint and two KOM's on the stage, plus three 3.4km finishing circuits on the bumpy bricks of downtown Columbus, Stage 2 could be another good day for a mass sprint finish, but watch enterprising attackers like Colnago's Ludo Capelle to try and get away.

Photography

Images by Jon Devich/Cyclingnews.com/www.epicimages.us

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

  • David Clinger's new carbon and E5 Aerotec aluminium Specialized Tarmac - just delivered today!
  • The Lion King rolls into Macon to excited crowds.
  • The man of the hour then arrives and the crowd goes wild.
  • George Hincapie had a strong spring campaign. Can he translate that in the warm Georgia weather?
  • Mario Cipollini waits to be called up to the front of the start as a few American domestic riders try not to look nervous.
  • A local cancer survivor was invited to start today's stage. Here he meets and shares a few words with his hero.
  • The Navigator's mechanic makes some unorthodox adjustments to Chris Baldwin¹s time trial brake levers - every gram shaved helps.
  • Local Bobby Julich supporters pulled out all the stops in supporting their favorite rider.
  • Everyone was asking, "Where's Lance?" Here he is, riding next to eventual second-place finisher Ivan Dominguez (Colavita-Bolla). When asked by a non-cycling journalist if he was worried about Lance in the finish, he simply replied, "I don't care about him." (meaning he knew th
  • Rounding the corner for the first of three laps around downtown Macon, the pack remained tightly bunched.
  • This unlucky rider flatted with one lap to go, but was able to get a quick change thanks to the fast hands of the boys in yellow.
  • The Health Net mini-train led by John Lieswyn delivered Gord Fraser (second) to the stage win and the leader's jersey.
  • Cipo had an uneventful day in the saddle. He was able to avoid a last-lap crash and finish in the group.

Images by Beth Seliga/www.3catsphoto.com

Images of the TIAA-CREF/5280 team by Beth Seliga/www.3catsphoto.com

Results

1 Gordon Fraser (Can) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                 3.18.59
2 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines         
3 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                                                 
4 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                    
5 Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                          
6 Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                         
7 Nieko Biskner (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                                 
8 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance                              
9 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                 
10 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                           
11 Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor Builders                                     
12 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                               
13 Sergio Marinangeli (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                  
14 Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                    
15 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor         
16 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                   
17 Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines           
18 Ivan Ravaioli (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                        
19 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC                                              
20 Chris Horner (USA) Webcor Builders                                       
21 Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                              
22 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                             
23 David Clinger (USA) Domina Vacanze                                       
24 Russell Hamby (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                
25 Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor             
26 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                
27 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                        
28 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor         
29 Dominique Perras (Can) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                             
30 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                     
31 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                   
32 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC                                            
33 Maximilian Sciandri (GBr) Team CSC                                       
34 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor           
35 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance                                  
36 Cesar Grajales Calle (Col) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                          
37 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                   
38 Jimmi Madsen (Den) Team CSC                                              
39 David George (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                         
40 James Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders                                       
41 William Frischkorn (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines    
42 Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) Team CSC                                      
43 Mario Scirea (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                        
44 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance                                  
45 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor      
46 Tim Johnson (USA) Saeco-Saunier Duval                                    
47 Adam Bergman (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                   
48 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance                                  
49 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                   
50 Ernesto Lechuga (Mex) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                
51 Imanol Ayestaran Odriozola (Spa) Webcor Builders                         
52 John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                        
53 Christopher Pic (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                               
54 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval                             
55 Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                                
56 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saeco-Saunier Duval                           
57 Daniel Rincon (Col) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor           
58 Michael Creed (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor           
59 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor            
60 Danny Pate (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                          
61 Jason Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                 
62 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance                           
63 Timothy Duggan (USA) USA National                                        
64 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                         
65 Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                         
66 Colby Pearce (USA) USA National                                          
67 Antonio Bucciero (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval                               
68 Alessio Galletti (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                    
69 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines            
70 Todd Herriott (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines         
71 Stuart Gillespie (USA) USA National                                      
72 Thad Dulin (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines            
73 Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                              0.29
74 Jason McCartney (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                     
75 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance                                   
76 Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                      
77 Paul Ellis (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                     
78 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                      
79 Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                
80 Jacky Durand (Fra) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                             
81 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines       
82 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines       
83 Justin England (USA) Webcor Builders                                 0.42
84 Matt Dubberley (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                           0.46
85 James Schneider (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                               
86 Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) USA National                                   
87 Daniel Bowman (USA) USA National                                         
88 Trent Klasna (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                 
89 Jonathan Sundt (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                            0.51
90 Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval                             0.56
91 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                          1.05
92 Marc Hagenlocher (USA) Webcor Builders                                   
93 Benjamin Haldeman (USA) Webcor Builders                                  
94 Blake Caldwell (USA) USA National                                        
95 Mikhail Timochine (Rus) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                        
96 Sean Sullivan (Aus) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                        
97 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC                                                
98 Ben Stafford (USA) Webcor Builders                                       
99 Craig Lewis (USA) USA National                                       1.15
100 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Sierra Nevada Cycling                           1.25
101 Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Insurance                                  
102 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Navigators Insurance                                   
103 Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                             1.34
104 Peter Lopinto (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                           2.00
105 John Murphy (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                                  
106 James Lewis Perry (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli               2.08
107 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                          
108 Jason Bausch (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                                
109 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                         
110 Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                
111 Sterling Magnell (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                        2.25
112 Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                              4.49
113 Ian Macgregor (USA) USA National                                    6.55
 
Teams
 
1 Health Net Presented By Maxxis                                     9.56.57
2 Jelly Belly-Aramark                                                       
3 Team CSC                                                                  
4 Ofoto Cycling Team                                                        
5 Colavita Olive Oil Presented By Bolla Wines                               
6 Sierra Nevada Cycling                                                     
7 Team Barloworld - Androni Giocattoli                                      
8 Domina Vacanze                                                            
9 US Postal Service Presented By Berry Floor                                
10 Webcor Cycling Team                                                      
11 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                                        
12 Jittery Joe's Cycling Team                                              
13 Saeco-Saunier Duval-Prodir/Mixed Team                                    
14 USA National                                                             
15 Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                                            0.29
 
General classification after stage 1
 
1 Gordon Fraser (Can) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                 3.18.48
2 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines     0.05
3 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                                             0.07
4 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                0.11
5 Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                          
6 Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                         
7 Nieko Biskner (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                                 
8 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance                              
9 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                 
10 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                           
11 Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor Builders                                     
12 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                               
13 Sergio Marinangeli (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                  
14 Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                    
15 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor         
16 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                   
17 Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines           
18 Ivan Ravaioli (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                        
19 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC                                              
20 Chris Horner (USA) Webcor Builders                                       
21 Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                              
22 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                             
23 David Clinger (USA) Domina Vacanze                                       
24 Russell Hamby (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                
25 Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor             
26 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                
27 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                        
28 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor         
29 Dominique Perras (Can) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                             
30 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                     
31 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                   
32 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC                                            
33 Maximilian Sciandri (GBr) Team CSC                                       
34 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor           
35 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance                                  
36 Cesar Grajales Calle (Col) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                          
37 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                   
38 Jimmi Madsen (Den) Team CSC                                              
39 David George (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                         
40 James Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders                                       
41 William Frischkorn (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines    
42 Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) Team CSC                                      
43 Mario Scirea (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                        
44 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance                                  
45 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor      
46 Tim Johnson (USA) Saeco-Saunier Duval                                    
47 Adam Bergman (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                   
48 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance                                  
49 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                   
50 Ernesto Lechuga (Mex) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                
51 Imanol Ayestaran Odriozola (Spa) Webcor Builders                         
52 John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                        
53 Christopher Pic (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                               
54 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval                             
55 Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                                
56 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saeco-Saunier Duval                           
57 Daniel Rincon (Col) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor           
58 Michael Creed (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor           
59 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor            
60 Danny Pate (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                          
61 Jason Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                 
62 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance                           
63 Timothy Duggan (USA) USA National                                        
64 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                         
65 Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                         
66 Colby Pearce (USA) USA National                                          
67 Antonio Bucciero (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval                               
68 Alessio Galletti (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                    
69 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines            
70 Todd Herriott (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines         
71 Stuart Gillespie (USA) USA National                                      
72 Thad Dulin (USA) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines            
73 Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                              0.40
74 Jason McCartney (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                     
75 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance                                   
76 Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                      
77 Paul Ellis (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                     
78 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis                      
79 Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly/Aramark                                
80 Jacky Durand (Fra) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                             
81 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines       
82 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines       
83 Justin England (USA) Webcor Builders                                 0.53
84 Matt Dubberley (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                           0.57
85 James Schneider (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                               
86 Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) USA National                                   
87 Daniel Bowman (USA) USA National                                         
88 Trent Klasna (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                                 
89 Jonathan Sundt (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                            1.02
90 Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval                             1.07
91 Marc Hagenlocher (USA) Webcor Builders                               1.14
92 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                          1.16
93 Benjamin Haldeman (USA) Webcor Builders                                  
94 Blake Caldwell (USA) USA National                                        
95 Mikhail Timochine (Rus) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                        
96 Sean Sullivan (Aus) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli                        
97 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC                                                
98 Ben Stafford (USA) Webcor Builders                                       
99 Craig Lewis (USA) USA National                                       1.26
100 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Sierra Nevada Cycling                           1.36
101 Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Insurance                                  
102 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Navigators Insurance                                   
103 Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                             1.45
104 Peter Lopinto (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                           2.11
105 John Murphy (USA) Jittery Joe’s Coffee                                  
106 James Lewis Perry (RSA) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli               2.19
107 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                          
108 Jason Bausch (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                                
109 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet – Colnago                         
110 Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Domina Vacanze                                
111 Sterling Magnell (USA) Sierra Nevada Cycling                        2.36
112 Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports                              4.57
113 Ian Macgregor (USA) USA National                                    7.06

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