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April 25/05 9:31 am - Dodge Tour de Georgia Final Stage: Canadian Rider Interviews, Race Report, Full Results


Posted by Editoress on 04/25/05
 

Dodge Tour de Georgia Georgia USA

Amy Smolens caught up with Gord Fraser after winning the 6th and final stage at 2005 the Dodge Tour de Georgia

How was today's finish?

"I was pretty confident (going into today's final sprint). I have been feeling better every day... I knew I had Greg (Henderson) on my wheel so I actually went a lot earlier. If I blew up I knew Greg would be there to clean up the mess. But I had great legs. I got in my sprint and just kept accelerating.. well I did not decelerate.. it is an uphill sprint. It was a win win situation. If I came up short, Greg would have come around me for the win. But fortunately for me I had the legs to go all the way. So I am happy for Health Net Maxxis here in Georgia"

Talking with Eric Wohlberg before the final stage.

How has the experience been here at the Dodge Tour de Georgia with Team Symmetrics?

The team has just been great, the staff has worked so hard, the riders are giving everything they've got but you really look at this field and it's kinda two fields - it's the ProTour teams and the rest of us. So while it's nice to have a chance to measure up against some of the big dogs of the world, we kind of knew where we stood coming in here and we're just trying to have the best ride we can and maybe a lucky break or two but that hasn't really panned out for us. So it's just pedaling as hard as you can all day long and you get what you get."

What have you been able to teach the young kids?

"I think that was one of the reason I was brought on to Symmetrics. We have some senior riders like myself and Erker, Tuft, Lange and Pinfold for that matter that have done a fair bit of high level North American racing and international stuff too, and I think that we're the young guys and they're really coming along. We can't pedal their bikes for them but we're doing everything we can, and they're learning and picking it up."

There's a cycling fan I've met this week that I'd like to mention. Everett Apple is a five-year-old from Marietta, Georgia. He and his mom, Andrea, have come to every stage so far. An avid cyclist, he rides every day after he goes home until it gets dark and is easily the most savvy five-year-old I've ever met - he really knows a lot about the riders! We've all been giving him special access - at the Stage 4 finish in Dahlonega we brought him up onto the camera platform on the final corner with the stipulation that he couldn't move or the camera would shake. He kept up his end of the bargain! The PHOTO is of me, Everett, and OLN cameraman Nat. Remember the name, Everett Apple! Someone will have to find him a tiny Symmetrics jersey, right?

Health Net Pro Cycling Team report

The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will leave the Dodge Tour de Georgia with exactly what it came for: a stage win and a leader's jersey.

Canadian national champion Gord Fraser came across the line, arms raised to take the final stage. Glued to his wheel in second place came Kiwi Greg Henderson, wearing the orange Maxxis Points Jersey, which he would wear onto the final podium as well.

"Hendy was pretty tired coming into the stage," said Jeff Corbett, directeur sportif of the Oakland, CA-based Health Net Presented by Maxxis team. "But Gord was getting stronger after starting out the first couple days of the tour still feeling the effects of the flu he had at Redlands. When it came down to the end of the stage, we switched our plan around from trying to set up Hendy to seeing if we couldn't get him glued to Gord's wheel coming into the finish and at least get him a top-ten placing so he could get enough points to keep the Maxxis sprint jersey. It was great to see him stick to Gord's wheel all the way to the line."

Health Net Presented by Maxxis gets a break

Before the stage, Fraser noted that one of two things needed to happen for Henderson to keep his jersey. Either things had to stay together and they got him points in both intermediate sprints, or more ideally, a break composed of non-contenders for the sprint jersey went up the road and took out all the points in the intermediates.

When Andrea Tafi (Prodir-Saunier Duval) once again had a go at a break in an effort to get that elusive final win of his career, he did Health Net Presented by Maxxis, as well as Discovery, a huge favor. Tafi attacked just after the feed zone mid-way through the race, with still more than 20 Km until the first intermediate sprint.

Tafi was quickly joined by Danny Pate (Jelly Belly-Pool Gel), Dominique Perras (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) and Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner). With none of the four a threat to either the overall lead held by Tom Danielson (Discovery) or Henderson's points jersey, both teams were content to let the four attackers roll off the front and establish a lead that for a time topped three minutes. Discovery patrolled the front of the bunch and made sure the break didn't get out of hand, but with Pate the highest placed on GC at more than nine minutes back, they weren't too concerned.

With 55 Km to go, the Italian Continental pro team LPR took over pace-making and began to reel in the break in an effort to set up their young sprinter, Danilo Napolitano. Despite good work from the four attackers, LPR steadily cut into their lead. Their work gave Health Net Presented by Maxxis a break, but with 38 Km to go, a couple of the guys went to the front to help out LPR.

By the time the break had hit the first of six finishing circuits with about 35 Km to go, their gap had been reduced to just 1:15, and it became apparent that Tafi would again be disappointed on this day.

Once on the finishing circuits, Discovery went to the front to look after Danielson and to help out LPR. With those two teams on the front, Fraser and Henderson could sit in right behind and conserve much energy before the finish.

With 22 Km to go, Corbett ordered the rest of the troops to the front to start gaining more control over the race and to ensure that the break, which was hovering 30 seconds ahead, didn't stay away, despite the best efforts of the eternally strong, 39-year-old Tafi.

With three laps to go, Pate attacked and shattered the small break. Only Krauss could stay with the former Health Net Presented by Maxxis rider. Soon, Tafi was back in the peloton. Even with Pate's attack, the break was down to under 15 seconds. Finally, with just 10 Km to go, it was groupo compacto, with LPR and Discovery back on the front setting tempo, with Health Net Presented by Maxxis well represented right behind them.

Coming into the final 5.9 Km circuit, LPR kept the pace high, with the peloton strung out in a line behind them. Napolitano was protected, but Health Net was right behind them waiting to challenge the young sprinter who already has five victories in Europe this season.

Even so, Tafi had one more go at it coming across the finish line at the beginning of the final circuit, but the gap of 50 meters he opened was short-lived. On the final lap, the pace stayed high to discourage further attacks. With 3 Km to go, it was Chris Wherry of Health Net Presented by Maxxis on the front driving the peloton, with the help of Floyd Landis, who might have been looking for one last chance to make up the nine seconds separating him from Danielson.

The last couple kilometers saw a succession of riders from different teams on the front of the group. Coming into the final kilometer, no single team had taken control of the sprint, and riders were all across the road in what was quickly becoming a chaotic finish, with almost every team having a go at an elusive stage win.

Somehow, Fraser found his way through the pack with Henderson, adorned in the bright orange Maxxis points jersey, in tow. By the time they both hit the line, arms raised, they had a full bike length on Credit Agricole's Aurelien Clerc. In those final few seconds, the team had achieved its two main goals for the Dodge Tour de Georgia.

Race Notes

The 15 points Fraser earned for the win jumped him up to third in the points competition, but the 12 for Henderson gave him a convincing 40-24 in over second place Lance Armstrong.

Justin England finished with the pack and held onto his 14th place overall. Scott Moninger also stayed in 20th. Their high finishes helped Health Net Presented by Maxxis to 5th place in the overall team competition behind Pro Tour teams Discovery, CSC, Prodir-Saunier Duval and Gerolsteiner.

Of the 121 riders who started the Dodge Tour de Georgia, only 81 finished.


Stage 6: Blairsville/Union County to Alpharetta, 201.5km
1. Gord Fraser (Can) Health Net/Maxxis4:59:00
2. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net/Maxxis
3. Aurelien Clerc (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems
4. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team LPR
5. Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Credit Agricole
6. Rene Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner
7. Christian Muller (Ger) Team CSC
8. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Prodir - Saunier Duval
9. David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance
10. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC
11. Portal Sebastien (Fra) Credit Agricole
12. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance
13. Jackson Stewart (USA) Kodak Gallery - Sierra Nevada
14. Brice Jones (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel
15. Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC
16. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
17. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
18. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
19. Sascha Urweider (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems
20. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
21. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole
22. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel
23. Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
24. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC
25. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance
26. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel
27. Nick Waite (USA) USA National Team
28. Michele Maccanti (Ita) Team LPR
29. Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel
30. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
31. Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner
32. Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole
33. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Prodir - Saunier Duval
34. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel
35. Timothy Johnson (USA) Jittery Joe's - Kalahari
36. Daniele Masolino (Ita) Team LPR
37. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home
38. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
39. David Canada Gracia (Esp) Prodir - Saunier Duval
40. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
41. Geoff Kabush (Can) Jittery Joe's - Kalahari
42. Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Esp) Prodir - Saunier Duval
43. Trent Lowe (Aus) Jittery Joe's - Kalahari
44. David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
45. Saul Raisin (USA) Credit Agricole
46. Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC
47. Michael Lange (USA) Team TIAA - CREF
48. Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
49. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team TIAA - CREF
50. Michael Rich (Ger) Gerolsteiner
51. Jose Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel
52. Andy Guptill (USA) USA National Team
53. Dominique Perras (Can) Kodak Gallery - Sierra Nevada
54. Tomasz Nose (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems
55. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir - Saunier Duval
56. Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
57. Aaron Olsen (USA) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home
58. John Devine (USA) USA National Team
59. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
60. Alessandro Maserati (Ita) Team LPR
61. John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
62. Danny Pate (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel
63. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Team LPR
64. Justin England (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
65. Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
66. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Prodir - Saunier Duval
67. Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance
68. Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Navigators Insurance
69. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance
70. Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel
71. Jose Luis Rubiera Vigil (Esp) Discovery Channel
72. Craig Lewis (USA) Team TIAA - CREF
73. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net/Maxxis
74. Niki Aebersold (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems
75. Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly - Pool Gelall s.t.
76. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel0:21
77. Ivan Fanelli (Ita) Team LPR0:49
78. Cory Lange (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team, s.t.
79. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Team LPR3:13
80. Elia Aggiano (Ita) Team LPR
81. Jonathan Page (USA) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home
DNF. Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak Hearing Systems
DNF. Derek Wilkerson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home
Final GC
1. Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel26:53:44
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteinerat 0:04
3. Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems0:09
4. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC1:10
5. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel1:41
6. David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC3:04
7. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir - Saunier Duval3:11
8. Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Navigators Insurance3:14
9. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC3:51
10. Jose Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel3:58
11. Trent Lowe (Aus) Jittery Joe's - Kalahari4:12
12. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC4:19
13. Saul Raisin (USA) Credit Agricole4:43
14. Justin England (USA) Health Net/Maxxis6:45
15. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC6:54
16. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Prodir - Saunier Duval6:59
17. Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC8:19
18. Danny Pate (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel8:59
19. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel11:01
20. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net/Maxxis11:58
21. Jose Luis Rubiera Vigil (Esp) Discovery Channel13:06
22. David Canada Gracia (Esp) Prodir - Saunier Duval14:09
23. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Team LPR14:27
24. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner14:37
25. Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel16:40
26. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Team LPR18:46
27. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance19:58
28. Dominique Perras (Can) Kodak Gallery - Sierra Nevada20:10
29. Michele Maccanti (Ita) Team LPR20:50
30. Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Esp) Prodir - Saunier Duval20:53
31. Geoff Kabush (Can) Jittery Joe's - Kalahari21:53
32. Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net/Maxxis22:50
33. Michael Lange (USA) Team TIAA - CREF23:20
34. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Prodir - Saunier Duval26:13
35. Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole27:44
36. Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner29:27
37. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance29:36
38. Tomasz Nose (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems31:38
39. Portal Sebastien (Fra) Credit Agricole32:15
40. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel32:45
41. Daniele Masolino (Ita) Team LPR32:47
42. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team34:17
43. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home35:09
44. Elia Aggiano (Ita) Team LPR38:02
45. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team38:32
46. Michael Rich (Ger) Gerolsteiner40:11
47. Brice Jones (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel40:28
48. Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner40:42
49. Timothy Johnson (USA) Jittery Joe's - Kalahari40:53
50. Jackson Stewart (USA) Kodak Gallery - Sierra Nevada42:32
51. Ivan Fanelli (Ita) Team LPR43:55
52. Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC45:34
53. Nick Waite (USA) USA National Team45:47
54. Craig Lewis (USA) Team TIAA - CREF46:46
55. Christian Muller (Ger) Team CSC47:01
56. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Prodir - Saunier Duval47:21
57. Niki Aebersold (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems49:14
58. David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance49:30
59. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team TIAA - CREF49:48
60. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel50:15
61. Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Credit Agricole50:29
62. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net/Maxxis50:35
63. John Devine (USA) USA National Team50:52
64. Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly - Pool Gel50:53
65. Sascha Urweider (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems51:51
66. Cory Lange (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team52:31
67. Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance53:58
68. John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net/Maxxis54:45
69. Rene Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner55:34
70. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team1:01:17
71. Gord Fraser (Can) Health Net/Maxxis1:02:32
72. Aaron Olsen (USA) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home1:03:16
73. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole1:03:52
74. Alessandro Maserati (Ita) Team LPR1:04:48
75. Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net/Maxxis1:04:53
76. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance1:04:54
77. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team LPR1:05:31
78. Aurelien Clerc (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems1:07:12
79. Andy Guptill (USA) USA National Team1:08:15
80. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team1:08:21
81. Jonathan Page (USA) Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home1:19:49
Sprint GC
1. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net/Maxxis40. pts
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel24
3. Gord Fraser (Can) Health Net/Maxxis21
4. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC21
5. Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel19
Climber's GC
1. Jose Luis Rubiera Vigil (Esp) Discovery Channel46. pts
2. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner30
3. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir - Saunier Duval23
4. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC23
5. Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel19
Best Young Rider
1. Trent Lowe (Aus) Jittery Joe's - Kalahari26:57:56
2. Saul Raisin (USA) Credit Agricoleat 0:31
3. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC2:42
4. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner10:25
5. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Team LPR14:34
Team GC
1. Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team80:46:15
2. Team CSCat 1:11
3. Prodir - Saunier Duval18:38
4. Gerolsteiner26:09
5. Health Net Presented by Maxxis34:27
6. Team LPR45:14
7. Navigators Insurance Cycling Team45:44
8. Credit Agricole59:15
9. Jittery Joe's - Kalahari Pro Cycling Team1:01:47
10. Phonak Hearing Systems1:04:29
11. Jelly Belly - Pool Gel1:14:39
12. Team TIAA - CREF1:49:01
13. Symmetrics Cycling Team1:53:34
14. Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter Home Pro Cycling Team2:26:02
15. USA National Team2:32:18

 

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