6th Tour de Georgia 2008 - Preview
Course preview, stage profiles, essential links, favorites and live race coverage.

By: Andrew Kappes

The 2008 Tour de Georgia gets underway on Monday. Considered the "second wave" of major cycling after the Tour of California, the Tour de Georiga has struggled to get funding in years past. That seems to be the issues of the past, as AT&T have signed on as title sponsor. The big pre-race news involving teams is the last minute inclusion of Rock Racing. Spanish powerhouse Saunier Duval withdrew from the race, opening a slot for the controversial, but powerful American continental team.

We recommend tuning in for the live video feed on www.WCSN.com/cycling
Broadcast Schedule: (All times Eastern):
April 21 10:30am - 2:00pm
April 22 12:30pm - 4:30pm
April 23 12:00pm - 4:00pm
April 24 1:00pm - 4:00pm
April 25 12:30pm - 4:30pm
April 26 11:30pm - 3:30pm
April 27 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Stage 1: Tybee Island-Savannah (70.4 miles/113.3 kilometers)
Monday, April 21, 2008 - Start Time: 10:30 am
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Stage 1 profile

Instead of a prologue, the racers will get right to the action with a flat stage to start this year's race. There will be three opportunities before the finish for sprinters and breakaways alike to get some sprint points, they are at Outbound (22km), Pooler (32 km), and Pooler (59 km) once more. This will setup a flat finish in the historic city of Savannah, where the sprinters' teams will most likely have reeled in the break. Favorites include Tyler Farrer (Slipstream), Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner), J.J. Haedo (CSC), Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing), and Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United).
Stage 1 Map pdf.
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Stage 2: Statesboro-Augusta (116.9 miles/188.1 km)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - Start Time: 11:00 am

Stage 2 Profile

A tough day two will lie ahead for the riders. It's profile is dominated by very steep hills and one categorized climb grace the stage's rolling beauty. Intermediate sprints will be at Millen (39 km) and (57.1km). The first mountain points will be available after the riders enter the first of two circuits in Augusta at 109.1 km is a category four climb, 11.1-kilometers from the finish. This could put a fork into the peloton's tired legs, and no doubt be the scene of attacks by riders wanting to avoid a mass finish. The conditions may be ideal for the smaller American teams like Jittery Joe's, Team Type One, or Jelly Belly chancing the early break. My favorite for this one would be a rider of the likes of Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe's). Whoever goes will face the combined might of the teams who will want to position their sprinters to take the glory.
Stage 2 Map pdf
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Stage 3: Washington-Gainesville (108.2 mi./174.1 km)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - Start Time: 11:00 am

Stage 3 Profile

After a neutral start of l.5 km riders roll out on the slow ascent from 400 feet to 1200 feet to the finish; the terrain doesn't get any friendlier for the riders on Wednesday with the short steep collection of hills. Three intermediate sprints on the menu: Comer (53 km), Ila (60.3 km) and Homer (80.3 km). This stage is of the wide-open variety, an early breakaway could easily survive; but once again any break will have a tough go of it in keeping a gap and make good avoiding a mass finish of the sprinters.
Stage 3 Map .pdf
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Stage 4: Atlanta Team Time Trial (16 km)
Thursday, April 24, 2008 - Start Time: 1:00 pm

Stage 4 profile

A unique twist to the 2008 Tour de Georgia is the team time trial where we are likely to see a tightly packed G.C. arrive with the would be leaders counting on their team to launch them to the head of affairs. A team time trial is always an exciting blend of teamwork and the Tour of Georgia has picked an excellent venue for spectators at  the Road Atlanta Le Mans style Grand auto 2.54 mile loop with 12 turns. Only two teams will be on the circuit at any time as they complete three circuits.

Not your typical flat parcours for this event a bit hilly with a quick rise at the start of the rolling course. A team built to win this would be Slipstream, consisting of world class time trialists Dave Zabriskie, Danny Pate, Christian Vandevelde, and Tom Danielson. CSC as always comes with a strong squad and capable of making noise with Bobby Julich and Bradley McGee. Potential surprises are High Road, Gerolsteiner, and Rock Racing with Hamilton, Botero, Pate and Sevilla.
Stage 4 Map pdf
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Stage 5: Suwanee-Dahlonega (133.4 mi./214.7 km)
Friday, April 25, 2008 - Start Time: 10:00 am

Stage 5 Profile

The first of a two day mountain climbers festival in two stages will prove pivotal for the general classification on Friday. Three categorized climbs are on tap on the tours longest stage including the finish on Crown Mountain. The day is made for the long break, with the final climbing challenge less than 30 km from the finish. Watch for the early break, with a battle on the final climb with a select group fighting to stay away to the finish. First day for the climbers to show their form: Astana's Contador and Levi Leipheimer are sure to weigh in but with a boat load of climbing talent  we could see some surprises by the end of the day - Don't count out Tom Danielson, Santiago Botero, or Bobby Julich.
Stage 5 Map .pdf
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Stage 6: Blairsville-Brasstown Bald (88.4 m/142.3 kilometers)
Saturday, April 26, 2008 - Start Time: 11:00 am

Stage 6 profile

The deciding stage of the Tour de Georgia is once again the Brasstown Bald stage. Brasstown Bald is that of legends, the American equivalent of Alp D'Huez. This is the same mountain Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis prepared for their epic Tour de France rides. The riders will go over two categorized climbs before the Brasstown Bald, but it will be the finish that decides who will win the Tour de Georgia. Expect Levi Leipheimer, Tom Danielson, Bobby Julich, and maybe even George Hincapie to battle it out for this one.
Spectator Instructions Brasstown Bald
Stage 6 Map .pdf
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Stage 7: Atlanta Circuit Race (62.7mi./101 km)
Sunday, April 27, 2008 - Start Time: 1:00 pm

Stage 7 Profile

The riders will wind down the 2008 Tour de Georgia on the Atlanta circuit. It consists of 10 laps, each one being 6.3 miles or 10.1 kilometers long. There will be major points available at the end, so the sprinters will want to reel in the breakaway if they are to battle for the points jersey, assuming it's still up for the taking. Circuit king Ivan Dominguez is the favorite, but other sprinters like Robert Forster, Tyler Farrar, J.J. Haedo, and personal favorite High Roads Greg Henderson could take the win.

The 2008 Tour de Georgia will once again be an exciting one, and a chance for the world to see America's domestic talent. This might be the deepest field in an American race in recent memory, outside of the Amgen Tour of California. Astana still has slim hopes of receiving a last minute bid to the Giro, can a good Tour de Georgia performance help their cause? Only one way to find out, tune in the the 2008 Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T beginning on Monday.
Stage 7 Map .pdf
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We recommend tuning in for the live video feed on www.WCSN.com/cycling

Reference Links
Race Website
Stages: Start and Finish Times
WCSN Daily Live Coverage Schedule
Race Maps & Profiles
Rolling Festival Schedule
Teams & Riders (No bib numbers)
Race Leader Jerseys:
Yellow: General Classification
Blue: Sprint Points Competition
Red with Peaches: Climbers Competition
Green: Best Young Rider (U-23)
Orange: Most Aggressive Rider

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