Detailed Tour de Georgia route released

ATLANTA - Tour de Georgia officials say the fifth stage of this year's race, which will begin in Gainesville April 23, will roll off at noon.

They have now released a detailed, city-by-city schedule for the 642-mile race.

In northeast Georgia, in addition to Gainesville, the race will take the 120 entrants through Ellijay, Suches, Dahlonega, Clermont and Clarkesville. Also, Helen, Rabun County, and Fannin, Dawson, Pickens and Forsyth counties.

The sixth and final stage begins in Blairsville on April 24.


SUMMARY OF EACH STAGE OF THE 2005 DODGE TOUR DE GEORGIA



Stage 1 - Augusta to Macon

128.9 miles/207.4 kilometers

Start: 11:30 a.m. Finish: 4:14 - 5:02 p.m.

Stage begins in Augusta and goes through Grovetown, Harlem and Dearing before reaching the first Maxxis Sprint Line in Harlem.
From the second Maxxis Sprint Line in Warrenton, the race moves through Jewell's Mill, Culverton, Sparta, Devereux and then to the third Maxxis Sprint Line at Milledgeville.
From Milledgeville, the cyclists will ride 26 miles down Georgia 49 and into the city of Macon, where the race will conclude with three finishing circuits.


Stage 2 - Fayetteville to Rome

122.7 miles/197.5 kilometers

Start: 1:30 p.m. Finish: 5:52 - 6:36 p.m.

Stage begins in Fayetteville, just southwest of Atlanta, reaching the first Maxxis Sprint Line at Peachtree City after covering only 12 miles.
From Peachtree City, the race heads northwest into Tyrone, through Palmetto, Temple, and Draketown before reaching the second Maxxis Sprint Line at Rockmart by the Silver Comet Trail.
Moving further north, the race heads to Floyd County and into Rome for the first Georgia Power King of the Mountain (KOM) Competition of the race at Clocktower Hill and three finishing circuit.


Stage 3 - Rome Time Trial

18.6 miles/29.9 kilometers

First Rider at 11 a.m. on one minute intervals (last 10 riders at 2 minute intervals)

Starting at the historic Darlington School, individual riders pull out of the school for a race against himself, the elements, and the clock.
After following along the river bluffs for 11 miles, the route turns left onto Mount Alto, a steep and narrow climb which boasts a tricky decent.
From Mount Alto, the rider will make his way into Downtown Rome.


Stage 4 - Dalton to Dahlonega

133.4 miles/214.7 kilometers

Start: 10:00 a.m. Finish: 2:50 - 3:38 p.m.

The first of two mountain stages leaves Dalton under a neutral start of 2.3 miles. The race flag drops at Glenwood Avenue and races toward Spring Place then Chatsworth for the first Maxxis Sprint Line.
Enter the Fort Mountain climb at mile 24, the first KOM contest of the day. Descending into Ellijay, the racers face the second Maxxis Sprint Line with 95 miles to go before passing through Suches and the second KOM at Woody Gap in the last 50 miles.
Three more KOMs - Neels Gap, Wolf Pen Gap and Woody Gap - lurk before the race heads into Dahlonega along Hwy. 19 before finishing on Main Street just off the square.


Stage 5 - Gainesville to Brasstown Bald Mtn. (Towns County)

113.4 miles/182.4 kilometers

Start: 12:00 p.m. Finish: 4:06 - 4:46 p.m.

A penultimate day of climbing begins in Gainesville, as the peloton drives north into Clermont and Clarksville for the only Maxxis Sprint Line at mile 32.
Riders push into Rabun County, facing four tough KOMs in only 64 miles beginning with Dick's Creek Gap and then Unicoi Gap on Hwy 17/75, just north of Helen.
Turning right onto Hwy 348/Richard B. Russell riders face the Hogpen Gap at mile 96.6, and arrive at the base of Brasstown Bald Mountain 10 miles later at Spur 180 for a 3.1 mile climb to the finish.


Stage 6 - Blairsville/Union County to Alpharetta

125.2 miles/201.5 kilometers

Start: 12:30 p.m. Finish: 5:06 - 5:53 p.m.

After a 4 mile neutral start, the race begins just outside of Blairsville, passing through Fannin, Dawson, Pickens and Forsyth counties before reaching the first Maxxis Sprint Line at the Cumming County Fair, 85 miles into the race.
The second Maxxis Sprint Line comes 15 miles later in Fulton County at the Alpharetta City Hall.
Turning onto Westside Parkway, the riders will take on six finishing circuits totaling 22 miles.