Today begins the 5th running of the Tour de Georgia, or as Bob Roll says it, "Tour DAY Georgia". The first satage ends about 25 miles from home in Macon. I will spend the day in Macon volunteering as a course marshal for the tour and for the Komen Women's Criterium race which will be run on part of the finish circuit before the big boys arrive. It should be a good way to build up to the excitement of the main event this afternoon.
It will be hard to stay focused on work Tuesday through Thursday knowing that Friday I'll be heading to the mountains to ride my bike to and up Brasstown Bald to join the tens of thousands of crazies there to see the incredible final climb up that wall they call a road. I plan to see the start on Saturday and to be there on Sunday for the final stage, a circuit race in downtown Atlanta.

https://www.tourdegeorgia.com/index.php

I'm jealous!! Be sure and take lots of pics!

My brother and I went down 2-3 years ago on a Friday when they finished in Dahlonega. We did the 36 mile loop that took in a few of the climbs before the peloton came rolling through. Before the group got there, a horrific storm came through with wind, lightning and hail. Wherever we were watching from that day was party central-really a fun day.

I can't believe they are starting Friday's stage from Dalton at 11am and expect to be finished in 4hr 30mins. We have to start rides like that at daybreak just to make sure we get finished by dark!!!

Good luck on Brasstown-you should be in fine fashion with your secret weapon.

Hey BluesDawg, I was out the other day down by the start and finish. The winner, Contrini or whatever his name is was an @$$hole. I was standing where he stopped after finishing and I gave him a thumbs up. Well, as I go to take his pic, he throws his hand up and turns his back. Oh well, it was a fun race to watch. Where are you from BluesDawg? I actually live here in macon.

Just up the road in Milledgeville, the "asylum city".

Great pics BD, thanks for sharing them! I'm jealous!

Steve

https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18143523/

I see that Tyler Hamilton is competing, although well back in the pack.

Yes, Tyler is there. One of his Tinkoff teammates has been wearing the leader jersey. You can see Tyler in the second picture above. He is the last guy in the picture in a yellow jersey and white rimmed glasses. He looks like he's looking for something, maybe his lost twin?

If you like those, wait 'til you see the ones I'll get tomorrow. I'm about to hit the road. Driving to stay with my sister in Flowery Branch and then head up to Suches in the morning to start my mountain ride to see the climax of the TdG.

Brasstown Bound!

All Right!! Keep us posted!

Quick!! Let's all give our Ga friend an imaginary push!!! If my timing is correct he is probably grinding is way up Brasstown right now.......that's a really tough sucker to go up....even on fresh legs.

It must have helped. I made it up. 4 stops to let my heart slow down, but I didn't have to push the bike at all. Between the imaginary push and my ubergranny gear, I rode all the way up that sucker!
The day was great fun and I got some good pictures and hope to get more at the stage start Saturday. I'm too sleepy to get into it now and it may be Sunday before I can get the pictures uploaded. I will say that this was the hardest 47 mile ride I've ever done. Not just Brasstown, but also the 7 mile steady climb to Wolfpen Gap on tired legs on the ride back to my car.

Here goes...

and more...

and more...

and a few on Saturday...

Great photos and congrats on the ride! Who was that behind Hincapie on Brasstown?

Rubens Bertogliati
https://www.tourdegeorgiamedia.com/ri...7/4-SDV/32.pdf

Seeing pictures of rides make me wanna ride. Nice pics and outstanding riding.

When I lived in Acworth I was only one mile from the route. We arrived early for good positioning of our chairs. It was inspirational to watch all those cyclists. They were led by some guy named Lance something or other. I wonder what ever happened to him?
Hope you enjoyed yourself Bluesdawg.

Nice pics. Thanks for posting them. Hamilton looks like he is really suffering. He says he is targeting the Giro, but his perfomances this year would indicate that he probably will not be a key player. Too much time not racing or too old?

Yeah, Tyler looked like he could have used a transfusion.

Versus has 2 hours of TdG coverage Saturday and 1 hour Sunday. 5pm EDT both days.
https://www.versus.com/cyclysm/#Georgia

3.8 MPH! Way to hang tough and just keep on pumping, that has to be one hell of a hill!


P.S. I like those bags a lot.