April 7/04 9:10 am - Georgia Final Team List, Midweek CC Title Sponsor

Posted by Editor on 04/7/04
 

Dodge Tour de Georgia

ATLANTA, Ga. (April 6, 2004) ˆ Saeco-Saunier Duval was named today as the final professional team in a field of 15 to compete in the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia, scheduled for April 20-25. Race officials confirmed that 10 domestic and five international teams have accepted invitations to compete. Each team will field eight riders, with a total of 120 professional cyclists representing 23 countries for the seven-stage, six-day race.

"This roster is one of the most competitive and entertaining fields in international cycling this season," said Chris Aronhalt, deputy executive director of the Dodge Tour de Georgia. "We had considered inviting a total of 16 pro teams this year, and are very happy to cap the field with 15 prominent teams. This in no way dilutes the competition, but enhances the quality of competition. We know that teams are planning to bring their strongest riders, as they see this event as one of the marquis road races on the entire race calendar, both domestically and internationally."

Professional teams in the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia include:

Div I Trade Teams
* Landbouwkrediet ˆ Colnago (Belgium)
* U.S. Postal Service, presented by Berry Floor
* Team CSC (Denmark)
* Saeco-Saunier Duval (Italy/Spain)

Div II Trade Teams
* Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli (Italy)
* Domina Vacanze (Italy)
* Navigators Insurance

Div III Trade Teams
* Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines
* Health Net, presented by Maxxis
* Jelly Belly/Aramark
* Jittery Joe's Coffee
* Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
* Sierra Nevada
* Webcor Builders

U23
* U.S. National, presented by TIAA-CREF


Saeco, a Division I trade team based in Italy, was the winner of the 2003 Team World Cup and is an annual competitor in the Tour de France. Saunier Duval-Prodir is a Division I trade team based in Spain, with American Tim Johnson (formerly with Saturn) on the roster this year. With several "classics" races being held the same week as the Dodge Tour de Georgia, such as La Fleche Wallonne and Liege - Bastogne ˆ Liege, these teams are able to send several athletes to ride together to have representation in Georgia.

"The Dodge Tour de Georgia will have a good mix of teams, from CSC to Colavita to Navigators, and Chris Horner's Webcor team will be a threat. It is a good opportunity for the domestic teams to test themselves against the European teams," said Chris Carmichael, founder and chairman of Carmichael Training Systems, who recently visited Georgia to look at parts of the course for Lance Armstrong, whom he coaches. Carmichael was a cycling coach for the U.S. Olympic teams in 1992 and 1996.

A final roster of athletes will not be determined until after the Sea Otter Classic in California April 15-17. Some of the top athletes expected to compete in Georgia include five-time Tour de France champion Armstrong (USPS Pro Cycling), 2003 Dodge Tour de Georgia Champion Chris Horner (Webcor Builders), U.S. Pro Road Champion Mark McCormack (Colavita Olive Oil), current and five-time Australian National Time Trial champion Nathan O'Neill (Colavita Olive Oil), American Bobby Julich (CSC), who placed third overall in the 1998 Tour de France and third in this year's Paris-Nice event, and German Jens Voigt (CSC), who won the 2004 Criterium International.

Editor Note: Apparently, the Tour de Georgia organization have decided not to allow Canada to field a national squad at their event. The CCA was contacted about entering a squad after one of either Saeco or Saunier Duval-Prodir said they could not field a full squad (the two teams are entering a composite squad - see above). However, the organization has decided to stick with 15 teams rather than 16.

There will be plenty of Canadian representation - Gord Fraser (Health Net), Charles Dionne (Webcor), Mark Walters (Navigators) and Eric Wohlberg (Sierra Nevada).


Title Sponsor for Midweek CC

The Midweek Cycling Club is very pleased to announce that the law firm of Harris + Harris LLP will be the club's title sponsor for the 2004 Monday and Wednesday night Criterium Race Series. In addition Harris + Harris will sponsor Midweek's elite cycling team.

Young, aggressive and goal oriented, Harris + Harris' approach to providing legal services embodies the same qualities necessary to attain the highest results in the world of competitive cycling.

Just as Midweek's elite riders work together as a team to achieve victory, so too do Harris + Harris' lawyers provide perfect teamwork in order to help their clients reach all of their goals.

Located at 2355 Skymark Avenue in Mississauga, Harris + Harris is a short ride away from the Hershey Centre, the venue for Midweek's Monday and Wednesday night races. Harris + Harris is a full service legal firm providing services in the areas of corporate, securities, litigation, family, tax, employment, wills and estate planning, and real estate law.

To find out more about Harris + Harris and Midweek Cycling Club, visit their websites at www.HarrisandHarris.com and www.midweekclub.com.