Friday, Apr. 22, 2005
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| | Friday, Apr. 22, 2005 |
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Bad Links? | Pro bikers zip through town By MICHAEL BOYLAN Thousands of spectators lined the Fayette County portion of the 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia’s second stage Wednesday, with a majority of people lined up around Autograph Alley and the area where the race would begin. Patient fans were rewarded with some glimpses and moments with six-time Tour de France champion and last year’s Dodge Tour de Georgia winner Lance Armstrong, as well as the other riders that signed in, especially the gracious U-23 national team, Stars and Stripes, and local racers from the Jittery Joe’s/Kalahari team. The crowds started gathering at the Old Courthouse Square in Fayetteville early Wednesday morning, visiting booths and enjoying treats at several food stands. By 11 a.m. the narrow sidewalks around the staging area were crowded and people began staking their claims on the side of the road with chairs and coolers. Representatives for the teams milled around the hospitality tent speaking a variety of languages including English, German, French and Italian among others. As noon approached, vehicles that would join the caravan began getting into place and the crowds grew even more. At noon, after Queen’s “Bicycle Race” blared from the PA system, the race announcers took the stage and started detailing accounts of Tuesday’s racing action while also interviewing cycling celebrities such as 1984 Olympic silver medalist Nelson Vails. The Fayette Middle School band performed a set right before Autograph Alley started buzzing with action. Once Armstrong came through Autograph Alley, the crowds all moved into the best position for viewing. After all the riders took their marks, Mark Wills sang the national anthem and local resident Thomas Watkins started the race. Once the race began, the riders flew by, taking the Tour out of town and on its way to the finish line. They passed through Peachtree City and Tyrone, as fans and students from schools such as McIntosh High, Crabapple Lane Elementary and Tyrone Elementary stood on the sides of the road, and entered both Coweta County and South Fulton County. Crabapple students were dressed in colorful Tour de Georgia T-shirts and they displayed flags made in honor of the various countries represented in the field of cyclists. By all accounts the students were well-behaved and quite enthused, waving their official Tour de Georgia clapping noise-makers and cheering even as the law enforcement vehicles passed by, several minutes ahead of the bikers. The first bikes to appear in eyesight of the school were three racers in high gear crossing Ga. Highway 74 to reach the Maxxis Sprint Line, located just past the fire station. The rest of the pack ensued, and the kids waved, hollered and cheered for the roughly 20 seconds it took the bikers to speed past the school. A throng of spectators, many of whom came in their golf carts, lined both sides of the road just past the school. Sunglasses on and cameras in hand, they too had to avoid blinking or risk missing their glimpse of greatness. Somewhere in there was six-time Tour de France winner Armstrong, but at speeds nearing 20 miles per hour, it was difficult if not impossible to spot him with the naked eye. Several Crabapple students were overheard after the blur of cyclists sped past: “Is that it?” Others picked up their blankets and picnic remnants, satisfied they could say they saw one of the greatest cyclists of all time, and a sporting event hailed as America’s premier bike race. Armstrong finished third in the stage and was at fifth place overall at the end of Wednesday’s racing, while Peter Wrolich of Gerolsteiner won the stage. The race’s overall leader at the time the paper went to press was Robert Hunter of Phonak. The race will conclude in Alpharetta on Sunday and tomorrow’s racing action in the North Georgia mountains will be exciting. For more information about the Dodge Tour de Georgia, visit www.tourdegeorgia.org.
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Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |
