The Spin Cycle

Geek my Race

The TdG official website has a killer neat way of following the race live.

Click Here.

Amateur Hour?

The local rag has a TdG section again this year, and I'm sorry to say that once again, it's gotten off to a not-so-great start. For instance, did you know that the CSC rider to watch is Jens Voigt? I'm sure he'll be surprised, since he's not even in the race. Let's not forget Credit Agricole's Cristophe Moreau - I mean, we really don't need to remember Saul Raisin, Georgia native and the 2003 winner of the Young Rider's category. And John Murphy may or may not be "the" rider to watch on the USAC U-23 team, but he's also a Georgia native, and a well known motor in Georgia racing circles. Research, people, research!

On the other hand, this article by Karen Rosen was a really nice look at the local Pro team in the race - Jittery Joe's / Kalahari. Go Bean Team!

The AJC really needs to retain the services of someone in the cycling world for their coverage. I'm not saying they need any credit, or write the stories, but someone who can fact check their assets, and help them avoid mistakes like these...

Let the Festivities Commence

The Dodge Tour de Georgia (TdG hereafter!) commences tomorrow, but all everyone is talking about is the potential for two huge announcements today.

First and foremost is the Lance Armstrong press conference today at 2:30 PM (EDT). What exactly will his Lanceness announce? No one knows for sure, but rumors abound - everything from "He's quitting immediately" to "He's riding the Giro, the Tour (the other one - in France), and doing the hour record, all this year." OLNTV will have live coverage,  and I'll have an update as soon as something substantial is announced.

The other potentially huge announcement is the possible decision in the Tyler Hamilton doping case (Here's a good LA Times article about the case). The arbitration panel is rumored to have come to a decision, and it's possible it will be announced today. One huge rumor is that TH will be absolved of wrongdoing, and will start the TdG. Curiously, the Phonak team (the team that TH was fired from last fall - at his (TH's) request) has only 7 riders listed on the start list for the TdG, even though each team is allotted 8 start positions.

So, lots of excitement, and the race hasn't even started yet. Should be a good week!

UPDATE: Armstrong: Retiring. Hamilton: Guilty.

TdG Route Details Announced

The Dodge Tour de Georgia website now has detailed roadmaps of all stages. Stages 5 and 6 are killer. Ouch.

The Floyd

The Floyd's (that's Floyd Landis, for the uninitiated) website has a new look. Check it out!

TdG Speculation, Part II

As we get closer to the The Dodge TdG, more team names have been released by the TdG staff, and some others have been confirmed in the media. Here's a revised list of definite, highly probable, and borderline teams for the TdG:

1. Discovery
2. Phonak
3. CSC
4. Saunier-Duval/Prodir
5. Credit Agricole
6. USAC U-23 National Team
7. HealthNet
8. Navigators
9. TIAA-CREF

Strike One

Well, the one neat little rumor that I was really hoping for hasn't worked out, and we will not see Roberto Heras or Liberty Seguros here at the TdG in April.

But we still have a chance for Mario. We also have definite confirmation that Credit Agricole will be here (you heard THAT rumor here first!) with Georgia Native Saul Raisin.

Cathy Mehl has a great interview with Stan Holm (TdG Race Director) over at the Daily Peloton - it's a must read!

BTW, I've added a new category strictly for TdG postings. I'll be updating all my earlier posts to reflect this over the next day or so, so that you can get all the TdG posts in one handy link.

Interesting - More TdG Info

Found this little bit in Tyler Farrar's CyclingNews interview:

CN: You say that you're heading to Europe tomorrow. What is the plan there?

TF: Well, I go over with the US national under 23 team. For the first part of the trip, we will be racing almost completely in Belgium in lots and lots of one-day races, in a lot of the Espoir events such as the Grand Prix de Waregem and other races like that.

I will be in Europe and then I will fly back just in time for the Tour of Georgia. I will be riding that with the US National team. I am really excited because it is my first-year riding that race, so that should be a good experience.

CN: Georgia is a nice shop window for you to show off your ability. There are several ProTour teams going to that, and then obviously there are other teams as well. I presume one of your targets for the season is going to be doing a ride in that?

TF: Oh, definitely. Georgia is one of the biggest races that we have in the US and I don't get a chance to show myself off too often. More and more I am getting the opportunity, but I still don't get, year round, the chance to show myself in the States. It would be nice to try and do a good ride there.

This should be the USA Cycling Under-23 team. I wonder what Pro team will be bumped to make way for them? I'll have to update my TdG post below...

TdG: Spin Cycle Batting 1.000 - So Far

Pez is reporting that the TdG has revealed at least four ProTour teams in addition to the DiscoPros that will participate in the 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia. Those four teams are CSC, Phonak, Saunier-Duval, and Credit Agricole. Additionally, one Pro Tour team may be added. Liberty Seguros is the hot rumor for that spot.

Remember that you read all this here first!

I Hear Voices...

My ears, they just hear these little whispers sometimes...

The one I'm hearing now keeps saying "Come home, Saul. Come home to Georgia."

Credit Agricole for TdG? Quite possibly.