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April 20/07 11:05 am - Tour de Georgia: Stage 5 report, results & photos


Posted by Editoress on 04/20/07
 

Tour de Georgia Georgia USA

Coverage sponsored by: Maxxis

Photos by Jonathan Devich

Report by Amy Smolens



When you last heard from me from the Tour de Georgia, Ryder Hesjedal had kept his and Team HealthNet's plans close to the chest for today, the race's Queen Stage up the mountain called Brasstown Bald.

Well, Ryder didn't disappoint. He was one of the initiators of the day's main breakaway that began 20 miles into the 107 mile stage, finished 7th on the day, and earned the United Community Bank King of the Mountains Jersey on the most mountainous stage of the race. There were 3 KOMs, with the final one being to the finish at Brasstown Bald. Brasstown Bald climbs 1650 feet in 3 miles... the average grade is 10.84%, with the steepest section having a grade of 24%, just before the 2km to go mark... the final kilometer has a 400 meter section with a 20% grade which "flattens out" (yeah, right) to 15 to 17% for the finish. I walked that final K, and with a backpack full of paperwork and other stuff while eating a barbecue sandwich it was quite a challenge. Even with a triple, riding up it would be misery for any tourist!

I spoke to a tired, but happy, Ryder Hesjedal while he was waiting in the "green room" tent for the podium presentations to begin.

AS: You were so secretive yesterday about your plan - was this the perfect
plan for HealthNet?

RH: Yeah, I don't know the total outcome of the results with our GC and stuff at the moment, but I just wanted to have a day like today and for sure needed to have a head start on the climb to have something close to a win or something like that. A long, hard day for the break and the first time up that climb, definitely steep and I was feeling it. I'm skinny but I'm still 70+ kilos, so I wasn't surprised to see the little guys come from behind and a with few K to go it was just kinda damage control.

AS: You raced in Europe last year, how tough is this climb, how does this compare?

RH: Pretty hard, I mean normally I haven't been in the aggressive position in trying to get to the base of a big climb finish via breakaway so you know it was kind of the first time with that experience. Usually it's be quiet and try and start fresh with the big guys. It was nice to be able to have hope with just a few guys going up there and just try to hang on.

AS: You stayed with every acceleration and then Alexandre Moos attacked - what happened there?

RH: That one was (shakes his head)...in my mind I said he could do that? We still had a couple of guys together and, that was just the difference on those steep, steep grades. I couldn't quite hold with a few other guys and the last couple Ks are just sort of a blur.

AS: You picked up the KOM from your teammate Jeff Louder, how big is that for you and Team HealthNet?

RH: Yeah it's always good to be on the podium and be representing. It was clear that if I was in the break I was going to try and get those points on a big day like today, a consolation prize.

A pretty good consolation prize! I've sent a photo of Ryder on the podium. It's a nice jersey, a variation on the usual KOM jersey, with Georgia's state fruit, peaches, instead of the traditional polka dots.

Stages 6 and 7 are flat with no KOM points available, so Ryder is guaranteed to wear the jersey on the final podium Sunday in Atlanta.

I've also sent a photo of Victoria's Mike Shea, the UCI's Chief Commissaire of this race, giving pre-race instructions to two of his fellow Comms, Matt Moses and Dot Abbott. He's done a great job here, and the moto cameramen and drivers I'm working with on the Versus show really like working with him. He doled out quite a few fines today to riders and directors, and four riders were even disqualfied - on a tough stage like this that tends to happen.

FYI, I didn't run into our friends from yesterday, Canmore's Tom Omstead and Scott Mortimer, today up on the mountain so I don't know if they fulfilled their promise of riding up, down and up Brasstown Bald today... Guys, if you read this come find me in the next few days!

Stage 5: Dalton to Brasstown Bald, 172.1km
11. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team4:33:33
2. Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Teamat 0:38
3. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light1.00
4. Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis1.06
5. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir1.19
6. Alexandre Moos (Sui) BMC Racing Team1.25
7. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis1.29
8. John Devine (USA) USA National Development Team1.30
9. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC1.38
10. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Teams.t.
11. Glen Alan Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team2.07
12. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC2.17
13. David Canada Gracia (Esp) Saunier Duval - Prodir2.20
14. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic2.26
15. Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic2.28
16. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team2.32
17. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team2.46
18. Scott Moninger (USA) BMC Racing Teams.t.
19. David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC2.52
20. Hubert Schwab (Sui) Quick Step - Innergetic3.03
21. Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems3.05
22. Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream3.09
23. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team3.14
24. Brian Vandborg (Den) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team3.18
25. Rubens Bertogliati (Sui) Saunier Duval - Prodir3.22
26. Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis3.28
27. Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Teams.t.
28. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Slipstream3.36
29. Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Predictor-Lotto3.53
30. Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream4.20
31. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team4.32
32. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC4.40
33. Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team4.50
34. Craig Lewis (USA) Team Slipstream4.52
35. Ivan Santaromita (Sui) Quick Step - Innergetic4.55
36. Peter Hatton (Aus) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light5.00
37. Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Lights.t.
38. Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team5.15
39. Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis5.18
40. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxiss.t.
41. Jason Donald (USA) Team Slipstream5.30
42. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team5.33
44. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team5.38
45. Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic6.03
46. Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team6.09
47. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell6.31
48. David McCann (Irl) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light7.05
49. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team7.13
50. Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor-Lotto
51. Nick Gates (Aus) Predictor-Lottoboth s.t.
52. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Predictor-Lotto7.21
53. Anders Lund (Den) Team CSCs.t.
54. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team7.33
55. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream
56. Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
57. Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team Slipstreamall s.t.
58. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team8:15
59. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light9:00
60. Leonardo Scarselli (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic9:09
61. Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Predictor-Lotto9:15
62. Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir9:22
63. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis9:27
64. Michael Lange (USA) Team Slipstream9:50
65. Charles Dionne (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light9:55
66. Nick Reistad (USA) USA National Development Team10:09
67. Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team CSC10:22
68. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
69. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissellboth s.t.
70. Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell10:25
71. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Tinkoff Credit Systems10:33
72. Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team10:39
73. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team10:55
74. Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light11:00
75. Eric Keim (USA) USA National Development Team11:08
76. Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) BMC Racing Team11:44
77. David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir11:56
78. Dominique Cornu (Bel) Predictor-Lottos.t.
79. Richard England (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell12:35
80. Alessandro Proni (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic12:39
81. Steffen Weigold (Ger) Tinkoff Credit Systemss.t.
82. Elio Aggiano (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems12:42
83. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor-Lotto12:57
84. Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team13:10
85. Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic13:28
86. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC13:47
87. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Predictor-Lotto13:52
88. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis13:58
89. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval - Prodir
90. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systemsboth s.t.
91. Martin Pedersen (Den) Team CSC14:30
92. Caleb Fairly (USA) USA National Development Team14:36
93. Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxiss.t.
94. Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team14:56
95. Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems17:06
96. Chad Beyer (USA) USA National Development Team17:14
97. Austin King (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team17:41
98. Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Teams.t.
99. Omer Kem (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell17:57
100. Evan Elken (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team18:28
101. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell18:31
102. Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team19:04
103. Sheldon Deeny (USA) USA National Development Team
104. Eric Riggs (USA) USA National Development Teamboth s.t.
105. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team19:11
106. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team19:16
107. Matt Shriver (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team
111. Cody Stevenson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team22:40
DNF Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
DNF Viktor Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
DSQ Adam Bergman (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
DSQ Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell
DSQ Garrett Peltonen (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell
DSQ Brian Dziewa (USA) USA National Development Team
GC
1. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team18:57:03
2. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSCat 0:12
3. David Canada Gracia (Esp) Saunier Duval - Prodir3.04
4. Rubens Bertogliati (Sui) Saunier Duval - Prodir3.06
5. Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic4.22
6. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team5.35
7. Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis6.00
8. Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis6.59
9. Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream10:08
10. Ivan Santaromita (Sui) Quick Step - Innergetic12:15
11. Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light12:26
12. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team24:48
13. Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team26:57
14. Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis27:15
15. David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC28:21
16. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light28:55
17. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis29:09
18. Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream29:55
19. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir30:00
20. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team30:17
21. Alexandre Moos (Sui) BMC Racing Team30:30
22. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC30:37
23. Brian Vandborg (Den) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team30:49
24. Hubert Schwab (Sui) Quick Step - Innergetic31:30
25. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team31:35
26. Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team32:24
27. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Slipstream32:37
28. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis33:00
29. John Devine (USA) USA National Development Team33:06
30. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic33:20
31. Glen Alan Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team33:46
32. Craig Lewis (USA) Team Slipstream33:53
33. Jason Donald (USA) Team Slipstream34:06
34. Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team34:08
35. Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team34:16
36. Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team34:17
37. Scott Moninger (USA) BMC Racing Team35:07
38. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream35:47
39. Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Predictor-Lotto36:05
40. Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems36:06
41. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team36:17
42. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team36:44
43. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team36:53
44. David McCann (Irl) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light36;.54
45. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSCs.t.
46. Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team37:18
47. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Predictor-Lotto37:25
48. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team37:30
49. Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic37:54
50. Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team Slipstream38:23
51. Dominique Cornu (Bel) Predictor-Lotto38:28
52. David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir38:34
53. Peter Hatton (Aus) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light38:41
54. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team38:46
55. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team39:05
56. Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team CSC39:08
57. Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor-Lotto39:18
58. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell39:23
59. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team39:25
60. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis40:08
61. Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodirs.t.
62. Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team40:18
63. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Tinkoff Credit Systems40:31
64. Leonardo Scarselli (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic40:46
65. Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell40:58
66. Charles Dionne (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light41:38
67. Nick Gates (Aus) Predictor-Lotto41:52
68. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light42:04
69. Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Predictor-Lotto42:12
70. Michael Lange (USA) Team Slipstream42:19
71. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell42:22
72. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team42:24
73. Alessandro Proni (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic44:24
74. Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC44:36
75. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis44:44
76. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems44%3

 

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