Anybody following the Tour here next week? 15 teams, 10 international, including USP (with Lance in tow), maybe Ms Crow. Starts in Macon on Tuesday, finishes in Alpharetta on Sunday. Follow the link
http://www.dodgetourdegeorgia.com/
See ya there.
It’s gonna be a great race and is quickly becoming quite the race participate in with the purse climb and Dodge being the title sponsor. Every good race director knows the way to top notch pro heart, “Have money will travel!”
I do, however, find it interesting that they route the course through the parts of north Georgia that are less difficult. I reconnoiter it has some to do with the Giro and TDF coming up and the desire to keep it a ‘preperatory’ event. Nonetheless, it’s going to not only be an opportunity to get to seem some of the 'litez duke it out but also we’ll be able to see some of the proto-gear that will be at the Giro and TDF!
The South will rise again!!!
I’m in Georgia, and I’m planning on following the race. I’m a full time health educator and part time newspaper reporter (used to be editor of a local paper), and I applied for and received press credentials for the race. I hope this will allow me to get behind the scenes during the race. I’m not going to be able to follow each stage; in fact, I will probably get to cover maybe two stages and the pre-race press conferences Monday. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m pretty jazzed about the race being here in our state.
I just wish they would call it something besides “Tour de Georgia.” That’s hokey. Tour of Georgia would have been better. We ain’t French down here (though I have nothing against the French). When most folks try to say Tour de Georia, it comes out Ture dee Jawja.
On second thought, maybe that’s how they should have spelled it.
RP
Cycling News announced yesterday that Mario Cippolini will be racing the TdG. The TdG hasn’t announced it yet – or if it has, I haven’t received the announcement in one of their press releases (and I get about three a day). But with Super Mario and Lance around, it will be a super event. CSC is coming as well, but I haven’t seen their roster. Wonder if they’ll send the big boys.
RP
I think it is going up the 2 hardest climbs in North Georgia. Hogpen Gap and Brasstown Bald. Hogped averages 7% for 7 miles, with some elevations exceeding 20%. Brasstown Bald is like 24%. I had a hard time climbing that one in my car. And both of those are one after another on the 6th day
I’m going down there for the Thursday double RR and TT. Should be interesting stuff. I haven’t seen the Euro Pros since the old Tour Du Pont days.
I can say from personal experience that Hogpen Gap is a major bitch. That climb about killed me in the century up there. 30/27 wasn’t nearly low enough. 7% for 7 miles is bunk. That seven miles includes some significant down hills. Take those out and it feels like 50% for 50 miles.
Ouch.
I hope there is no TV coverage. Seeing those boys shoot up that hill will be tough on my ego.
That’s one of the stages I’m planning on attending. I have a meeting in Atlanta. After that, I’m heading up to Rome for the time trial. I’ll miss the first stage of the day, but I hope to catch all or most of the time trial. Of course I must say that I’m more interested in the bikes than the riders. Maybe I’m too much of a gear geek.
RP
Macon does have ties to France, Their sister city is Macon, France. Health educator? Where? What?
There will be TV coverage. OLN will be there, as well as other television networks. I’ve done a half IM in the north Georgia mountains, and there are some climbs up there that are pretty evil. The portions we rode in the half weren’t too bad (they were very tough on me, but certainly they weren’t the toughest climbs in the area). I would think Hogpen and Brasstown Balld would be some of the toughest mountains in the area. According to organizers, the race sports 59,000 feet of climbing over 648 miles in 6 days. That sounds like a lot to me, but then again, I come from the flatlands of southern Georgia.
RP
Macon, France – I forgot about that. Maybe we do have a little bit of culture down here.
I’m a tobacco use prevention health educator with the Southeast Health District in south Georgia. Basically, I travel our 16 county public health district and tell people not to smoke. I do a little newspapering on the side. I would love to be in the news game full time, but I can’t support my family on what a small town newspaper reporter makes.
RP
Speaking of which. . .the wife and I are planning on camping out of the back of our Element. . .Anyone know a really good place to camp near Rome, GA?
Last year they didn’t do either one of those. . .I SERIOUSLY doubt they will do Brasstown and if they do I doubt it will be televised. That climb is something at which Edmund Hillary would grimace let alon a cyclist climb it.
But, on the other hand, if they have changed the course then more power to us - I can’t wait to see those dudes suffer if they actually do Hogpen/Brasstown. I will look a little more closely at the map but I know they have skipped the actual Gaps in the past but still did north Georgia.
Hmm… let’s see, SE GA Health District, is that out of Tifton or is it farther east? My wife is a physical therapistin Albany and does work with the Babies Can’t Wait Program. She has worked as far as Fitzgerald/Ocilla.
I have a old buddy that works for Tabaccofree Kids in D.C.; we grew up together in Macon. He sent the link below to me last week. It is their online letter campaign for Georgia’s smokefree bill
http://tfk.grassroots.com/ga/April13/?lk=0-1607212-277231-12016-0
By the by, we used to run with the HashHouse Harriers out of Fitzgerald in the old days, mid 80’s.
CSC is sending Julich, so I imagine he will be in the running for the overall. Jens Voight I think is also coming over and a number of their one day riders. The way they schooled everyone in the Philly Week races shows that when they come to the US they are not here for a vacation.
How 'bout that? I have an Element, too. I’ll be in the silver Element with the Coffee County plates.
Cycling News announced yesterday that Mario Cippolini will be racing the TdG. The TdG hasn’t announced it yet – or if it has, I haven’t received the announcement in one of their press releases (and I get about three a day). But with Super Mario and Lance around, it will be a super event. CSC is coming as well, but I haven’t seen their roster. Wonder if they’ll send the big boys.
RP
I saw that CSC is bringing Bobby Julich and Jens Voight whom have been multiple winners this year. I don’t believe Basso is coming as part of the team though.
Oh NO! They are making a special side trip to catch Hogpen Gap as well as Brasstown. The guy at the bike shop in Jasper is really stoked about that portion. Coming from the Land of Stuckey’s you just can’t believe they would do it.
Farther east. Our district office is in Waycross, but I live and work out of Douglas. The lady across the hall from me is the Babies Can’t Wait person for our part of the district. I’ve run once with the Harriers out of Fitzgerald. They do a hash run in Douglas each year, and three years ago I joined them for part of the run. Didn’t do it the last two years, but one of the guys in our local club ran with them this year.
Yeah, we’ve got a smoke-free bill in the Legislature right now, but it doesn’t look good. It passed the Senate, but got held up in the House. The Legislature is in a special session right now, and there’s a chance it could come up (so we’re told), but I doubt it. Looks like it’s something for next year’s session. Or it may just quietly “go away.”
RP
Here’s a copy of a portion of a press release I received earlier this week. Yes, they’re doing Hogpen and Brasstown.
HOW TO ENJOY THE RACE
AT BRASSTOWN BALD MOUNTAIN
Information for Spectators
HOW TO ENJOY THE RACE
AT BRASSTOWN BALD MOUNTAIN
Information for Spectators
EVENT: Stage 6 of the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia will be held Saturday, April 24. 120 professional cyclists on 15 teams will race from Athens to Hiawassee/Young Harris, 128.25-mile (206.4 km) stage race, with a mountaintop finish on Brasstown Bald (elevation 4679 feet / 1426 meters). Start 10:00 a.m., expected finish between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
DETAILS: There will be exceptional viewing along the route, including the seven-mile climb up Hogpen Gap and the six-mile climb up Jacks Gap and Brasstown Bald Mountain. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to secure a place to park and watch the race. Parking is limited and delays are expected on roadways during and after the race. Roads will not open until last riders have finished, approximately 4 p.m.
PARKING/
SHUTTLES: Parking near the finish line on top of Brasstown Bald Mountain is restricted. Spectators wishing to see the race on the mountain are encouraged to park along the shoulder of GA Hwy 180 and utilize a free shuttle system (8 am to 6 pm) GA 180 Spur to the Brasstown Bald parking lot. The free shuttle system will also return spectators back down the mountain to GA Hwy 180 following the race. Spectators are encouraged to ride their own bicycles and hike along the route as well. The three-mile climb up 180 Spur is steep, so low gearing on road bikes, or mountain bikes, is strongly encouraged. If parking a vehicle along Hwy 180, both wheels must be OFF the pavement to avoid interference with the race and avoid ticketing by law enforcement.
RACE
VIEWING: The finish line is located next to the Exhibition and Observation Center on the peak of Brasstown Bald Mountain. Viewing is limited at the finish line.
There are great viewing opportunities along Owl Creek Road, between GA Hwy 17/75 and Hwy 180. This section is a three-mile climb for the racers. A Sprint Line is located in downtown Young Harris at Young Harris College, and the peloton should pass this point as early as 12:25 p.m. The first climb of Stage 6 is located on Hogpen Gap (elevation 3480 feet/ 1061 meters). The peloton should cross the top of this seven-mile climb between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m.
ACTIVITIES: Beginning at Noon, near the finish, in what is usually the parking lot for Brasstown Bald, is the Healthy Georgia Expo for the Dodge Tour de Georgia. There will be exhibits, live music, vendors and a large video screen that will show highlights of the race, including the finish on the Bald.
MORE: Beautiful Brasstown Bald, rising 4,784 feet above sea level, is Georgia’s highest mountain. On clear days, the spectacular 360-degree view from atop the mountain allows you to see four states, Ga, Tenn., N.C. and S.C. This mountain is managed by the USDA Forest Service.
LOCATION: From Blairsville, Georgia take US 19 & 129 south for 8 miles. Turn left (east) onto Georgia 180. Go 9 miles to Georgia 180 Spur and turn left (north). Or, from From Hiawassee take Hwy. 76 west to Hwy. 75 South (towards Helen). Make a right onto Hwy. 180 East and continue 9 miles to Jack’s Gap and Brasstown Bald Mountain. Go 3 miles up GA 180 Spur to the Brasstown Bald parking lot.
CONTACT: Brasstown Bald Visitor Information Center, 706 896-2556