See this map in interactive form at the Dodge Tour de Georgia website.

The Stages

The 2nd annual Dodge Tour de Georgia starts next week, and excitement is high in Georgia. Here is the list of stages.

April 20th - Stage 1: Macon - Macon, 134 km
April 21st - Stage 2: Thomaston - Columbus, 177 km
April 22nd - Stage 3: Carrolton - Rome, 135 km
April 22nd - Stage 4: Rome Time Trial, 30 km
April 23rd - Stage 5: Dalton - Dahlonega, 216 km (5 KOMs)
April 24th - Stage 6: Athens - Hiawasee Young Harris, 206 km (2 KOMs, uphill finish)
April 25th - Stage 7: Dawsonville - Alpharetta, 145 km

The two mountain stages are Stage 5 and 6. Here are the KOMs for each:

Stage 5:
Georgia Power King of the Mountain Climbs
1. Location: Fort Mountain, 2844 ft/877 m
Mileage into the stage: 25.7 mi/41.4 km

2. Location: Woody Gap, 3200 ft/975 m
Mileage into the stage: 89.4 mi/143.9 km

3. Location: Neels Gap, 3139 ft/957 m
Mileage into the stage: 108.3 mi/174.3 km

4. Location: Wolfpen Gap, 3345 ft/1019 m
Mileage into the stage: 114.9 mi/184.9 km

5. Location: Woody Gap, 3200 ft /975 m
Mileage into the stage: 125 mi/201.2 km

Stage 6
Georgia Power King of the Mountain Climbs
1. Location: Hogpen Gap, 3480 ft/1061 m
Mileage into the stage: 84.1 mi/135.3 km

2. Location: Brasstown Bald, 4679 ft/1426 m
Mileage into the stage: 128.3 mi/206.4 km

Team Information

Fifteen teams have been confirmed for the Tour de Georgia, including several that rarely, if ever, make an appearance in the United States. 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), 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.

Landbouwkrediet – Colnago (Belgium) - Yuri Mitlushenko, Lorenzo Bernucci, Jacky Durand, Mikhail Timochine, Sergei Lagutin, Tony Bracke, Ludovic Capelle. Reserve: Wolodimir Bileka. Sport directeur: Adriano Baffi.

U.S. Postal Service, presented by Berry Floor - Lance Armstrong, "Eki" Ekimov, George Hincapie, Pavel Padrnos, Michael Creed, Damon Kluck, Daniel Rincon, Tony Cruz.

Team CSC (Denmark) - Thomas Bruun Eriksen, Bekim Christensen, Bobby Julich, Jimmi Madsen, Jakob Piil, Maximilian Sciandri, Brian Vandborg, Jens Voigt.

Saeco-Saunier Duval (Italy/Spain) Saeco's members: Salvatore Commesso, Joerg Ludewig, Nicola Gavazzi, Antonio Bucciero. Saunier-Duval's: Tim Johnson, Rafa Casero.

Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli (Italy)

Domina Vacanze (Italy) - Mario Cipollini, Francesco Secchiari, Massimiliano Mori, Alessio Galletti, Mario Scirea, Giovanni Lombardi, Sergio Marinangeli, David Clinger. Direttore Sportivo: Riccardo Magrini.

Navigators Insurance

Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines - Nathan O'Neill suffered a knee injury in February (a crash at the Valley of the Sun) and has undergone minor surgery. He will not be competing in the Tour de Georgia, but instead will act as a technical advisor for the team at the race. The team: Mark McCormack, Ivan Dominguez, Gustavo Artacho, Will Frischkorn, Thad Dulin, Juan Jose Haedo, Todd Herriott, Aaron Olson.

Health Net, presented by Maxxis - Gord Fraser, Greg Henderson, Chris Wherry, John Lieswyn, Scott Moninger, Mike Sayers, Danny Pate, Jason McCartney.

Jelly Belly/Aramark - Mariano Freidick suffered an injury at Redlands that required surgery. He has been on the turbo trainer since last week, but will not be racing again til May. Team: Kirk Albers, Adam Bergman, Ben Brooks, Alex Candelario, Paul Ellis, Ernie Lechuga, Caleb Manion. Doug Ollerenshaw

Jittery Joe’s Coffee - Cesar Grajales, Jesse Lawler, Chris Pic, Jake Rosenbarger, Jonny Sundt, Chad Hartley, Jed Schneider, and John Murphy.

Ofoto/Lombardi Sports

Sierra Nevada

Webcor Builders - Ted Huang, who was seriously injured at Redlands, has made a remarkable recovery and is back on the bike in limited fashion. He fractured his cheekbone but the team reports that he should heal without any further intervention.

U.S. National Team, presented by TIAA-CREF (U23)

Georgia Businesses Leverage Exposure

Georgia companies are taking full advantage of this year's race, as the Tour de Georgia explains:

Already known as the premier professional cycling stage race in the U.S., the Dodge Tour de Georgia is getting a large boost this year from the participation of many world-class athletes in the race, such as Lance Armstrong, the five-time Tour de France winner and well-known cancer survivor. Armstrong, and other Tour de France competitors like Bobby Julich, Jens Voigt, and Viatcheslav Ekimov [hopefully], rarely races in the U.S., and this presence is generating strong interest from media and fans who want to get an up close look at the big names in cycling.

The attention is good news to many Georgia companies that are sponsoring the race, including Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Georgia's largest healthcare provider network employing more than 10,000 people in 14 hospitals and nine surgery centers throughout that state. HCA's Hughston Sports Medicine Hospital and Sports Medicine Center is the medical sponsor and medical provider for the Dodge Tour de Georgia for the second year in a row.

"The Hughston Sports Medicine Hospital attracts many patients from outside Georgia, given our status as the first orthopedic specialty hospital in the U.S., and our reputation as an international leader in the treatment of activity-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders," said Don Avery, chief executive officer of the hospital. "Dodge Tour de Georgia represents a valuable opportunity for the hospital to reach its core audience across the U.S."

The hospital will provide medical coverage for the 15 teams of 120 riders, support personnel and 250 management personnel during the six-day, 653-mile Dodge Tour de Georgia. It has been preparing for months, including education of its staff in international riding policies and regulations, addressing language barriers and preparing for emergencies on the road.

Another race sponsor, Atlanta-based GE Energy, is supplying more than 150 volunteers and portable power generation equipment for the event. GE Energy and GE Healthcare are two of General Electric's many global businesses. GE Energy is a Partner Sponsor of the Dodge Tour de Georgia.

"GE is proud to operate five of its businesses in Georgia. We are sponsoring the tour as a way to support both the Georgia economy and the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the official beneficiary of the race, which is working to make Georgia a national leader in cancer treatment and research," said John Rice, president of GE Energy and chairman of the Dodge Tour de Georgia Board of Directors.

In addition, GE Healthcare will be the presenting sponsor of the Healthy Georgia Expo and will provide its GE Women's Health & Wellness Tour (WHWT) trailers as part of the event. The GE WHWT is designed to provide factual, pertinent and free information about health and well-being to women between the ages of 25-49. WHWT trailers will be set up at three host cities along the race route, Macon, Rome and Alpharetta.

An additional draw for GE Energy is the fact that it has an amateur cycling team comprised of 23 employees who are avid cyclists. The team, formed to promote healthy lifestyles, trains together and participates in charitable cycling events throughout Georgia and Northern Florida. Information about the Healthy Georgia Expo and the GE WHWT is available at: http://www.gemedicalsystems.com/whwt/.

Southern LINC, the wireless communications service from Southern Company, plans to take advantage of the widespread media attention to further enhance its name and brand recognition in the Southeast. The company is the official wireless communications provider of the Tour, and will provide handsets for the Tour organizers to facilitate communication during the race week as they travel throughout Georgia. The handsets will give race staff access to Instant LINCsm two-way radio, phone, and text messaging services.

"Southern LINC is honored to be the wireless communications provider for Tour de Georgia for the second year," said Bob Dawson, president and CEO of Southern LINC. "Southern LINC handsets will be provided to help coordinate the tour and report any emergency situations – by providing instant  communication along the route in both metro and rural areas."

Georgia Power, like Southern LINC, is a subsidiary of the Southern Company and a partner level sponsor of the Dodge Tour de Georgia. The exposure of the race to many smaller cities and rural Georgian communities is of particular importance to the company. Georgia Power is committed to support the event's goal to highlight Georgia as a tourist destination. The company is also focused on helping race organizers increase cancer awareness as a partner in "Georgia's Race to Defeat Cancer."

"Georgia Power places a great deal of emphasis on contributing to the entire state's economic development, which is why we are a part of the Dodge Tour de Georgia" said Mike Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Georgia Power. "We were one of the leaders in generating $646 million in new capital investment projects and more than 6,500 new jobs in Georgia in 2003, and we plan to add to those numbers in 2004."

"We support the Dodge Tour de Georgia because the event not only supports Georgia's economy, but because proceeds benefit the Georgia Cancer Coalition, an organization that is dedicated to the ongoing battle against cancer, " added Judy Anderson, Georgia Power's Senior Vice President, Charitable Giving. "Georgia Power's giving is focused on issues, such as preventing cancer, that directly affect our customers, our employees, our business and our shareholders. As a company, we want to be judged not only by the service we provide, but also for what we do to improve the quality of life for all people in places where we live and work."