BRASELTON, GA - Road Atlanta will host
one of the most unique events in its history when the Tour de Georgia
conducts the Team Time Trials stage at the historic road course on Thursday
April 24.
"It's fun. It's new. It's exciting," says
professional cycler Will Frischkorn, who will compete with Team Slipstream
Sports powered by Chipolte in the Tour de Georgia. "It's something
that will surprise people on how exciting it is because they haven't
seen it in the USA for a long time."
Team Time Trials competition
is a new stage for the Tour de George in 2008, and has not been part
of a major professional cycling event in the United States since 1986.
Fifteen
teams of eight riders each will challenge the hilly, 2.54-mile Road Atlanta
Grand Prix road course in the Team Time Trials. All members of a team
must start the race, and the strategy is to "ride flat out, hard
as you can as a group," says
Frischkorn. "Some teams will burn a couple of riders early (to set a fast
pace), but the key is to ride as close together in a pack as possible."
That's because the time for only the fifth place finisher is counted in the team
competition.
"I've only seen Road Atlanta on TV,
and it looks very tough," says
Frischkorn. "It will be a great venue for a stage like the Team
Time Trials."
The Tour de Georgia begins April 21 at Tybee
Island and finishes April 27 at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.
It is regarded as one of the top races in the United States, and serves
as a prelude to July's Tour de France. The Team Time Trials at Road Atlanta
will be Stage 4.
Details about the length of the Team Time
Trials races will be announced after a site review by event organizers.
Visit www.tourdegeorgia.com for updates.
Watch the Jittery Joe's Professional Cycling
Team make the first practice
laps for the Team Time Trials at Road
Atlanta on April 24 as stage 4 of the
Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T.
2008 Tour de Georgia Host Venues Announced
12 Georgia communities have been selected as the
official Host Venues for the sixth annual Tour de Georgia, scheduled
April 21-27, 2008. This year the Tour welcomes five first-time hosts,
as well as another first—a
Team Time Trial, to be contested at Road Atlanta. The host venue announcement
was made at a press conference at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
on December 5.
The Tour de Georgia, a seven-day professional race,
maintains its position on the international cycling calendar as a major
tune-up for July’s
Tour de France. The Tour continues to be the longest weeklong stage race
in North America with over 650 miles of scenic byways and highways across
the state. It is also one of the highest ranked stage races outside of
Europe with a 2.HC rating from the Union Cycliste Internationale and is
one of the top races on the USA Cycling Professional Tour.
2008 Tour de Georgia Start/Finish Cities are:
Stage 1: Monday, April 21 – Tybee Island, Ga.
to Savannah, Ga.
Stage 2: Tuesday, April 22 – Statesboro, Ga.
to Augusta, Ga.
Stage 3: Wednesday, April 23 – Washington,
Ga. to Gainesville, Ga.
Stage 4: Thursday, April 24 – Road Atlanta/Braselton,
Ga. (Team Time Trial)
Stage 5: Friday, April 25 – Suwanee/Gwinnett
Co., Ga. to Dahlonega., Ga.
Stage 6: Saturday, April 26 – Blairsville/Union
Co., Ga. to Brasstown Bald Mtn/Towns County, Ga.
Stage 7: Sunday, April 27 – Atlanta, Ga. (Circuit
Race)
FAN
TIPS FOR STAGE 4
Thursday, April 24, 2008
TEAM TIME TRIAL
Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
EVENT:
Team Time Trial, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
Distance: 10 miles (16.1 km).
Start: 1:00 p.m.; expected finish: 4:00 p.m.
Teams will race in heats, with two teams running per heat.
DETAILS:
Road Atlanta is a multi-purpose special events facility located
on 750 park-like acres in Hall County. The challenging, hilly 2.54-mile,
12-turn Grand Prix track is regarded as one of the finest road courses
in the world. Road Atlanta is host for one of the most important sports
car races in the world, the Petit Le Mans (Oct 1-4, 2008), which attracts
100,000 fans from 35 states and 18 countries. In 2007, Road Atlanta was
host to the Gwinnett Bike Fest, and is home to the Kevin Schwantz Suzuki
School and the Skip Barber Racing School. Road Atlanta is a family and
spectator friendly venue, and the track has taken additional measures to
ensure ease of access around the facility for physically challenged guests.
CONTACT:
Road Atlanta is located at 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton, Ga.
30517. For information visit www.roadatlanta.com or call 1-800-849-RACE
or 770-967-6143.
PARKING:
Gates will open at 8 a.m. There is a parking fee of $8 per car
for fans arriving by automobile; all spectator viewing is free.
RACE VIEWING:
The hilly terrain and multiple "s-turns" add an
additional degree of difficulty for the competitors, and at the same time
the fan-friendly venue provides incredible views for spectators. Fans are
encouraged to ride/bring their bikes and ride around the infield roads
to access various vantage points. Fans can even park in the infield, then
ride. The TTT will be run counter-clockwise on the track; prime viewing
spots include:
"Support Pit Lane:" overlooks the front
straightaway and finish line
Turn 6-7 along the fence line
Turn 3-4 along the fence line
Near "Suzuki Bridge" overlooking
Turn 12 (climb)
Go to www.tourdegeorgia.com for route profile and Road Atlanta map or
www.roadatlanta.com for printable PDF map. Note: Road Atlanta "No Dogs Policy" will
be in effect.
ROLLING 8 a.m., gates open.
FESTIVAL:
8:30 a.m., food vendors open.
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., N2 a Cure Adult
Charity Ride. 2.54-mile open course for one hour; entry fee of $40 includes
t-shirt and goodie bag. Benefits Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders
Service of Children's Healthcare; all Levels of cyclists welcome. Information
at www.N2Racing.org.
12:45 p.m., Start Ceremonies: National Anthem and
Official Start Ceremony
1:00 p.m., N2 a Cure Kids' Rodeo; entry fee $10. All ages welcome:
bike handling, safety checks, family fun. Information at www.N2Racing.org.
10:30- 5:00 p.m., Health & Wellness Expo;
free. Includes family-friendly activities, local vendors, food and
beverage vendors, big screen with live race action.
The Tour de Georgia is North America’s
premier, professional cycling event and rolling festival of community
activities. The Tour was first held in 2003 and has become a
spring tradition with a varying route of over 650 miles of racing.
Over 2.8 million spectators have traveled to Georgia to watch
the event.
NO CAMPING PERMITTED FOR THIS EVENT
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