DAHLONEGA -- Richard England of Australia, a former track cycling specialist, pedaled to the biggest road race of his career and countryman Trent Lowe moved into the race lead Friday at the Tour de Georgia.
Lowe (Slipstream-Chipotle), 26, who placed fourth in stage 1 and eighth in the third stage, jumped to the front with about 200 yards left and rode to a powerful downhill sprint to win the 133.4-mile Suwanee to Dahlonega road race in 5 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds.
``I had had strong legs all week; If I got over the final climb near the front, I knew I had a good chance,'' said England, who finished fourth in the opening stage and eighth in stage 3. ``With about 500 yards, I just had to take the risk and make the move at the right time.''
Rory Sutherland (Health-Net), also of Australia, was second in the longest stage of the seven-day race in the same time as the winner. George Hincapie (High Road) of Greenville, S.C. was third, also in the same time, in the stage held in periodic rain.
Lowe, who began the stage in sixth position, trailing former race leader Greg Henderson of New Zealand by 15 seconds, finished ninth in the stage.
``It's only a few seconds, but it's better to be a few seconds in the lead than trailing by a few seconds,'' said Lowe, 23, who claimed the race's best young rider category in 2006. ``It's not like I'm looking forward to tomorrow with the ending climb. But I am looking forward to bicycle racing.''
Henderson and several other riders struggled in the long stage, with the former race leader losing more than 15 minutes. Four riders set a strong pace early in the stage and built more than a 12-minute lead. But the main field erased the margin in the closing few miles.
The long stage, which included several climbs, prompted the withdrawal of several riders. Many others, including Tyler Hamilton (High Road) of Boulder, Colo., the reigning Olympic time trial gold medalist, losing nearly 30 minutes.
Lowe's American-based team won the team time trial fourth stage Thursday. As the first team rider across the line, Lowe is the race leader, although American teammates David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde, both of Salt Lake City, also have the same overall time.
American Levi Leipheimer, the race favorite, is in fourth place, trailing by four seconds.
England, the 2006 Australian nation criterium champion, began the day in 34th position. But he moved into 19th position, trailing by 42 seconds.
The event continues Saturday with the 88.4-mile sixth stage, which features a climbing finish to Brasstown Bald Mountain (elevation 4,747 feet), the highest point in Georgia. The race concludes Sunday with a 62.7-mile circuit race Sunday in Atlanta.
-- TOUR DE GEORGIA RESULTS
Friday
Fifth Stage
133.4-mile Suwanee to Dahlonega road race
Stage leaders
1. Richard England, Australia (Bissell), 5 hours, 15 minutes, 15 seconds, 25.39 mph
2. Rory Sutherland, Australia (Health Net), same time.
3. George Hincapie, Greenville, S.C., (High Road), same time.
4. Andrew Pinfold, Canada (Symmetrics), same time.
5. Oscar Sevilla, Spain (Rock Racing), same time.
6. Levi Leipheimer, Santa Rosa, Calif. (Astana), same time.
7. Moises Aldape, Mexico (Team Type 1), same time.
8. Bobby Julich, Reno, Nev., (CSC), same time.
9. Trent Lowe, Australia, (Slipstream-Chipotle), same time.
10. Trent Wilson, Australia, (Jittery Joe's), same time. Overall Standings
(After 5 stages)
1. Trent Lowe, Australia, (Slipstream Chipotle), 16 hours, 33 minutes 29 seconds.
2. David Zabriskie, Salt Lake City, Utah (Slipstream-Chipotle), same time.
3. Christian Vande Velde, Lemont, Ill., (Slipstream-Chipotle), same time.
4. Levi Leipheimer, Santa Rosa, Calif., (Astana), 4 seconds behind.
5. Chris Horner, Bend, Ore., Astana, same time.
6. Antonio Colom, Spain, (Astana), same time
7. George Hincapie, Greenville, S.C. (High Road), 6 seconds behind.
8. Kanstantin Siutsou, Belarus (High Road), same time.
9. Bobby Julich, Reno, Nev. (CSC), 13 seconds behind
10. Iigo Cuesta, Spain (CSC), same time.
Sunday
May 4th, 2025
4:09PM
