Tour de Georgia coming to Braselton next week
Road Atlanta to host team time trial event April 24
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
Braselton’s Road Atlanta will be a host site for one of the state’s largest sporting events next week — the Tour de Georgia.
Now in its sixth year, the Tour de Georgia is a seven-day professional cycling event that will span more than 650 miles through the state. Twelve communities have been selected as host venues.
The tour starts on Monday, April 21, in Tybee Island, and ends on Sunday, April 27, in Atlanta.
On Thursday, April 24, stage four of the tour will be featured at Road Atlanta, where the team time trial event will be held at the Braselton racetrack. The team time trial competition is a new stage for the Tour de Georgia.
Tour de Georgia officials expect 15 teams to compete in this year’s event. Each team includes eight professional cyclists. The teams include a number of international athletes. The Tour de Georgia is considered the premier cycling event in the United States before July’s Tour de France.
“The introduction of the team time trial is new, it’s exciting for the fans,” said Will Frischkorn, winner of the “Most Aggressive Rider” at the 2006 Tour de Georgia. “Most people haven’t seen this kind of event, and it’ll add an interesting different dynamic to the race.”
Cyclists will complete four laps counterclockwise at the 2.5-mile, 12-turn track at Road Atlanta. The team time trial will start at 1 p.m. and is expected to end at 4 p.m.
Earl Fannin, vice president of media and marketing at Road Atlanta, said spectators are welcomed to bring their own bikes to the event. Road Atlanta will allow spectators to ride their bikes on the in-field at the racetrack.
The Tour de Georgia is free for spectators. Parking at Road Atlanta will be $8 for in-field parking and free for parking outside the racetrack, Fannin said.
Road Atlanta will open its gates at 8 a.m. The N2 Cure Adult Charity Ride will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies will start at 12:45 p.m. Concessions and vendors will also be featured.
The N2 a Cure Kids’ Rodeo will be held from 1-5 p.m., and will include bike handling and safety checks. The entry fee is $10 for all ages. For more information, visit www.N2Racing.com.
Fannin said the Georgia State Patrol will assist with traffic around Road Atlanta on Ga. Hwy. 53.
More than 515,000 spectators watched the tour last year, and almost 4,000 volunteers assisted in the event.
The tour will also stop in Gainesville on Wednesday, April 23, and begin in Suwanee on Friday, April 25.
The Tour de Georgia will benefit the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
