Canadian Cyclist

 

April 25/04 7:19 am - Tour de Georgia: Stage7


Posted by Editoress on 04/25/04
 

Tour de Georgia Georgia, USA

This report made possible by Human Kinetics Publishers

Stage 7: Dawsonville to Alpharetta - 142.3km

Gord Fraser (Health Net) finished the Tour de Georgia the same way he started, with a stage win. By doing so, he clinched the Points Jersey, ahead of Ivan Dominguez (Colavita-Bolla Wines). Despite Fraser's impressive win, all eyes were on yellow jersey wearer Lance Armstrong (US Postal), who finished safely in the peloton, surrounded by his team mates.

The final stage wound its way south from Dawsonville to the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, over 145 kilometres of lightly rolling terrain, and finishing on a 5.9 kilometre circuit which the riders covered 4 times. Fraser took both intermediate sprints, effectively locking up the overall Points title before the finish.

The finish was hard after six days and 1048 kilometres of racing, with the riders facing an uphill run for the final 250 metres, out of a gentle right hand curve. Navigators started the wind-up for the finish for Vassili Davidenko, with Domina Vacanze taking over over for Cipollini in the final two kilometres. But Cipo came up short on the hill, finishing third behind Fraser and Juan Jose Haedo (Colavita-Bolla Wines).

Fraser described the finish:

"Navigators was doing a good job for Davidenko, and then Domina Vacanze took over with one kilometre to go. It was a little more chaotic than the usual flat finish. I was on a Colavita rider, who I assumed was Ivan, but it was Juan. Juan is pretty fast himself, and he was on Cipollini's wheel, so it was a good place to be. I just had to come by them at the end, about 50 metres out."

Cipollini stayed left, on the slightly steeper (but shorter) side of the climb, while Fraser and Haedo swung to the shallower right side, going longer, but picking up enough speed for both to get by Cipollini.

Race Notes

- Mario Cipollini did not show up for the awards ceremony, and was fined 200 CHF (Swiss francs), plus forfeiting Stage 7 prize money.

- The announcers were saying the crowds were over 50,000 on the finishing circuit.

- In the post-race press conference, Armstrong was asked about the Tour de Georgia and his Tour de France preparation. "I was surprised how many people there were - thousands, tens of thousands, it was fantastic. It's always nice to win, but it is even better to meet objectives like having a good time trial. I wish we could have more races like this, so we could come over here, and get the Euros to come, and we could use it for preparation for races like the Tour de France. For my prep for the Tour, things might be running a little hot right now, and we'll have to back it off a little."

He also said, regarding his plans for next season: "If the team continues, I'll continue", referring to the announcement by US Postal on Friday that they would not be sponsoring the team after this year.

- Davis Phinney, Olympic bronze medalist, Tour de France stage winner, and winner of over 300 career victories, came up on stage. Phinney is suffering from Parkinson's Disease, and has launched a Foundation to raise money to fight this disease. You can visit his website at www.davisphinneyfoundation.com.

1. Gord Fraser (Can) Health Net/Maxxis3:20:15
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil
3. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Domina Vacanze
4. Enrico Degano (Ita) Team Barloworld
5. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Colavita Olive Oil
6. Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago
7. Chris Horner (USA) Webcor
8. Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly
9. Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly
10. Russell Hamby (USA) Sierra Nevada
11. Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly
12. Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
13. Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Prodir-Saunier Duval
14. Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe's Coffee
15. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Jelly Belly
16. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance
17. Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil
18. Mikhail Timochine (Rus) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago
19. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
20. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor
21. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Prodir-Saunier Duval
22. Maximilian Sciandri (GBr) CSC
23. Blake Caldwell (USA) U23 National Team
24. Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) CSC
25. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada
26. Jimmi Madsen (Den) CSC
27. Jens Voigt (Ger) CSC
28. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago
29. Imanol Ayestaran Odriozola (Esp) Webcor
30. Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor
31. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Domina Vacanze
32. Ivan Ravaioli (Ita) Team Barloworld
33. Jason Bausch (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
34. Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Team Barloworld
35. Daniel Bowman (USA) U23 National Team
36. Sergio Marinangeli (Ita) Domina Vacanze
37. Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Insurance
38. Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly
39. Ernesto Lechuga (Mex) Jelly Belly
40. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance
41. Timothy Duggan (USA) U23 National Team
42. Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor
43. Jason Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada
44. William Frischkorn (USA) Colavita Olive Oil
45. Bobby Julich (USA) CSC
46. James Mattis (USA) Webcor
47. Paul Ellis (USA) Jelly Belly
48. Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance
49. Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance
50. Cesar Grajales Calle (Col) Jittery Joe's Coffee
51. Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe's Coffee
52. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada
53. Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
54. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
55. Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
56. Benjamin Haldeman (USA) Webcor
57. Tim Johnson (USA) Saeco-Prodir-Saunier Duval
58. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance
59. Dominique Perras (Can) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
60. David George (RSA) Team Barloworld
61. Justin England (USA) Webcor
62. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal Service - Berry Floor
63. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago
64. Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Team Barloworld
65. Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor
66. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor
67. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service - Berry Floor
68. Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Olive Oil
69. Adam Bergman (USA) Jelly Belly
70. Danny Pate (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
71. Brian Vandborg (Den) CSC
72. Jakob Piil (Den) CSC
73. Thad Dulin (USA) Colavita Olive Oil
74. Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) U23 National Team
75. Todd Herriott (USA) Colavita Olive Oil
76. John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net/Maxxisall s.t.
77. Stuart Gillespie (USA) U23 National Team0:12
78. Daniel Rincon (Col) US Postal Service - Berry Floor
79. Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
80. Jacky Durand (Fra) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago
81. Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Domina Vacanzeall s.t.
82. Michael Creed (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor0:19
83. Mario Scirea (Ita) Domina Vacanze
84. Alessio Galletti (Ita) Domina Vacanze
85. Sean Sullivan (Aus) Team Barloworld
86. Mori Massimiliano (Ita) Domina Vacanze
87. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net/Maxxisall s.t.
88. Jason McCartney (USA) Health Net/Maxxis0:39
89. Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurances.t.
90. David Clinger (USA) Domina Vacanze0:51
91. Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net/Maxxis1:05
92. Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil4:33
93. James Schneider (USA) Jittery Joe's Coffees.t.
Final GC
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor25:39:20
2. Jens Voigt (Ger) CSCat 0:24
3. Chris Horner (USA) Webcor1:01
4. Bobby Julich (USA) CSC1:57
5. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service - Berry Floor2:59
6. Cesar Grajales Calle (Col) Jittery Joe's Coffee3:07
7. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net/Maxxis3:44
8. Sergio Marinangeli (Ita) Domina Vacanze4:06
9. Brian Vandborg (Den) CSC4:52
10. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada5:25
11. Adam Bergman (USA) Jelly Belly5:27
12. John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net/Maxxis5:38
13. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance5:54
14. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance6:13
15. Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly6:17
16. Danny Pate (USA) Health Net/Maxxiss.t.
17. Dominique Perras (Can) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports6:26
18. Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Team Barloworld7:07
19. Justin England (USA) Webcor7:13
20. Ernesto Lechuga (Mex) Jelly Belly7:39
21. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada8:07
22. William Frischkorn (USA) Colavita Olive Oil8:16
23. Daniel Rincon (Col) US Postal Service - Berry Floor8:53
24. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Prodir-Saunier Duval9:38
25. Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor9:53
26. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor9:53
27. Alessio Galletti (Ita) Domina Vacanze10:13
28. Jimmi Madsen (Den) CSC10:34
29. Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) U23 National Team10:49
30. Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports11:56
31. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Jelly Belly12:30
32. Imanol Ayestaran Odriozola (Esp) Webcor13:02
33. Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly13:06
34. Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Team Barloworld13:31
35. Jason Mccartney (USA) Health Net/Maxxis14:27
36. Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net/Maxxis15:03
37. Timothy Duggan (USA) U23 National Team17:28
38. Todd Herriott (USA) Colavita Olive Oil18:52
39. Maximilian Sciandri (GBr) CSC18:58
40. David George (RSA) Team Barloworld19:23
41. Daniel Bowman (USA) U23 National Team19:25
42. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal Service - Berry Floor20:14
43. Mikhail Timochine (Rus) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago21:40
44. Mario Scirea (Ita) Domina Vacanze22:45
45. Mori Massimiliano (Ita) Domina Vacanze23:23
46. Ivan Ravaioli (Ita) Team Barloworld23:47
47. Russell Hamby (USA) Sierra Nevada23:49
48. Tim Johnson (USA) Saeco-Prodir-Saunier Duval25:23
49. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago25:46
50. Thad Dulin (USA) Colavita Olive Oil25:56
51. Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Insurance26:35
52. James Mattis (USA) Webcor28:04
53. Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance28:18
54. Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance28:49
55. Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net/Maxxis28:59
56. Jakob Piil (Den) CSC29:01
57. Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) CSC29:16
58. Gord Fraser (Can) Health Net/Maxxis29:52
59. Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance30:16
60. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports30:24
61. Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor31:15
62. Benjamin Haldeman (USA) Webcor31:53
63. Paul Ellis (USA) Jelly Belly32:08
64. Jacky Durand (Fra) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago32:28
65. Sean Sullivan (Aus) Team Barloworld33:53
66. Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly34:07
67. Jason Bausch (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports35:35
68. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net/Maxxis36:13
69. Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports36:33
70. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Domina Vacanze37:23
71. Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Olive Oil37:26
72. Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil37:33
73. Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor37:34
74. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance37:35
75. Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago37:43
76. Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe's Coffee38:07
77. Michael Creed (USA) US Postal Service - Berry Floor38:18
78. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Domina Vacanze38:29
79. David Clinger (USA) Domina Vacanze38:35
80. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil39:18
81. Jason Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada39:24
82. Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports39:38
83. Stuart Gillespie (USA) U23 National Team41:02
84. Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil41:59
85. Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly42:06
86. Blake Caldwell (USA) U23 National Team42:09
87. Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Domina Vacanze42:32
88. Enrico Degano (Ita) Team Barloworld42:49
89. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago43:34
90. James Schneider (USA) Jittery Joe's Coffee43:43
91. Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Prodir-Saunier Duval44:00
92. Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe's Coffee46:07
93. Ivan Dominguez (CUB) Colavita Oli

 

Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top


 
 | 
 Privacy Policy | Contact | Subscribe to RSS Feed  | Logout
 © Copyright 1998-2024 Canadian Cyclist. All rights reserved.