Tour de Georgia observations

Triathlon Forum
1

I witnessed the conclusion to stage one of the inaugural Tour de Georgia yesterday in Macon. The TdG is a six day stage race that started with a prologue in Savannah, and then began a five day tour around the state. I was able to come up with an excuse to be in Macon just in time for the finish. It would be my first opportunity to see a professional cycling race.

I stood along the barricade as the announcer told the crowd that the peloton was approaching. We could see the racers as they wound their way into the park (Central City Park for anyone out there familiar with Macon). The final approach was slightly downhill, which would make the finish that much faster.

Let me say that I have never seen anything remotely similar to the sprint finish of that first stage. I knew it would be fast, but I didn’t know it would be THAT fast. I have come to the realization that the peloton is not an organization, but an organism – a living, breathing being that, under optimal conditions, controls the race. This can be readily observed on OLN as the helicopters show from above the ebb and flow of the main pack, and can also be seen from the motorcycles as the peloton absorbs the breakaways. What cannot be seen, however, is the sudden burst that announces a sprint finish.

I was about 200 meters from the finish, camera in hand. I didn’t know whether to try to take a photo or just watch. So I did both. I took a photo as the racers came around the last curve, and then watched from there. I was totally unprepared for what transpired over those last 200 meters. Out of seemingly nowhere, the peloton just exploded as the sprinters broke for the finish line. I imagined it like a volcanic eruption – it was brewing, simmering, and you knew it was going to go, but you just weren’t quite ready when it finally erupted.

I have been involved in triathlon for three seasons, counting the one upon us. I have seen some fast riders, and I have even witnessed the ITU boys (and girls) in their packs jockeying for position in draft legal events. But never have I seen anyone ride a bike like those guys did yesterday. It has given me a new appreciation for anything involving a bicycle.

The TdG is a cool race. The Posties, the Navigators, Rabobank, Saturn, 7-Up, Jelly Belly, and several other top teams are here in our state. It was cool. I was standing around taking photos after the race, and I saw a guy in an American flag jersey – the U.S. champion, Chann McCrae. It warmed the triathlon fires in my heart to see an Ironman among the roadies.

Don’t know what this has to do with anything, except that it was way cool. Way, way cool.

RP

2

If you looked through the peleton a little further, you would have found not only an Ironman, but an Ironman winner (who also happens to be one of the guys on the banner ad at the top of this page). He is wearing a Webcor jersey and riding a blue & black Cervelo. I think that Stage 4 is supposed to be the selection, so you might enjoy finding a place to watch that stage. There a going to be some tired puppies out there, with 600K of racing in their legs over the last three days. Sprints are awesome, but seeing those guys climb hard enough to split the field or breakaway is also pretty spectacular.

3

I would love get in a position during the one of the next few stages and watch the guys out on the road, especially during the climbs. I remember seeing on the website that the stages are pretty long – the shortest one is right at 100 miles if my memory serves me correctly (and that’s the final day’s laps around Atlanta). The thing about the TdG is that it cuts across the middle of the state (yesterday’s stage) from east to west, then heads north along the western border of Georgia before turning east again through the north Georgia mountains, on its way to the final stage in Atlanta. I live in south Georgia, much closer to Jacksonville, FL, than Atlanta. It’s flat as a pancake down here (well, we have a few rollers, but only in certain spots), so the race organizers didn’t come through us. Thus yesterday was probably my only shot at seeing the race. It was still cool, though. We have some pretty nasty climbs once you get above Atlanta, and the peloton will have fun navigating the two hilly stages. The spectators up there will indeed see quite a show.

I didn’t even know Larsen was racing. If I had known that, I would have tried to find him and get a picture. I was like a tourist with my little camera, walking around taking pictures of various riders (anyone who was going slow enough to photograph), bikes, team cars, all that. It was just pretty cool.

RP

4

Larsen is racing, as in Chann McRae.

The sprint in bike racing is one of the most explosive moments in sports. Over 100 men throwing themselves full throttle at the finish line. The only bad thing about watching it in person is you can miss the teams trying to get their sprinters in position. Watching Mario’s team in the Giro last year was incredible. Sorry, but there is nothing comparable in triathlon. The potential for carnage rivals NASCAR.

I will try and catch the last two stages. I will try and watch the pack climb Woody gap on Saturday, and in downtown Atlanta Sunday. I really wich they would have climbed Hog Pen.

5

It was incredibly exciting. But it was also something else: Free! I walked into the park and sat in the bleachers without paying a dime. Only money I spent was at the expo (and that was only $10 for a hat). What other professional sport can you witness for free? That made it all the better.

RP

6

A sprint finish of the entire peloton of a big professional bike race is truely one of the great spectatacles of sports. The moves and the action that took place over the proceeding 100+ Km can be equally interesting.

The odd thing in bike racing is the first person across the finishline is indeed the winner of the race, but sometimes they are not the true hero of the race.

7

If you liked that, you should try watching points races on the velodrome. Just as much excitement, but multiplied for each points sprint.

8

At the risk of turning this into the Velonews Tech Talk forum, you can follow the race with live updates at http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/apr03/georgia03/?id=livecomp.

Currently, Lionel Syne is on a solo breakaway, about 14+ minutes up on the field. He rides with Steve Larsen on the Webcor team. Syne and some other Webcor guys came up to Davis a while back to preview the Solano hill climb. A couple of us locals rode with them and, on the flats on the way home, Syne was able to really hammer. Dude was taking extended pulls in a cross wind at around 30 mph. I hope he can stay out there and at least make Saturn and Navigators work.