Six Mile Post

Inside April 20, 2004's Issue

-Sports-

Braves cash in on Greenbacks

College, Bird and the meaning of life

Men in tight pants invade Rome!

By Lindy Dugger
[email protected]
Staff writer

�It's like a bikini,� stated Aaron Jermundson, an avid local cyclist. �The more you take off, the more expensive it is.�

Jermundson is describing nothing other than the construction of the $5000 bicycles ridden by the Olympic class cyclists coming to Rome on April 22.

In an invasion of sweat, titanium steel and neon colored custom jerseys, 120 athletes hailing from 22 countries as part of 15 international teams will race to and through Rome to prove their worth as cyclists as part of the second annual Dodge Tour de Georgia. They also compete for over $100,000 in cash and prizes.

The Dodge Tour de Georgia is America's premier pro cycling event, racing over 600 miles through 11 cities of Georgia in six days, beginning April 20 and ending April 25. Cities on the route include Macon, Thomaston, Columbus, Carrolton, Rome, Dalton, Dahlonega, Hiawassee, Dawsonville and Alpharetta.

This is Rome's second year as a host city for the event.

�In 2003, Rome had the second largest spectator turnout, second only to Atlanta,� said Lisa Smith, executive director of the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau who is also working as chairperson for the Rome section of the Tour de Georgia Organizers Committee. Smith explained this as one of the reasons Rome was asked to host the Tour de Georgia again.

Last year around 250,000 spectators turned up around Georgia to watch the events. Six thousand of those were in Rome. This year, both numbers are expected to at least triple. This, explained Chris McCormick, president of the Coosa Valley Cycling Association, is due to both the popularity of the event, curiosity and the appearance of cycling legends American Lance Armstrong, five time winner of the Tour de France, and Australian Nathan O'Neil, time trial champion.

Jermundson, director of the media center at Berry College, was one of the many volunteers during last year's event. His job, like many others', was to make sure spectators, animals and any other hazards stayed clear of the roads before the cyclists passed through.

�They fly through in packs going about 30 mph,� said Jermundson. �There is no way these guys can stop. If somebody crashes, it probably takes out 20, 30 bikes.�

According to Ann Arnold, lead volunteer coordinator for the Tour de Georgia, nearly 300 volunteers in Rome are already signed up to help during the racing events, doing things such as manning hospitality stations for teams and officials, cooking and serving during the banquet dinner to be held the evening of April 22 and monitoring the roadways to keep the roads clear. Arnold stressed that more volunteers are always welcome, and added that all volunteer receive a free t-shirt.

The tour is set in seven stages, which include sprint and circuit races, King of the Mountain competitions and a time trail. Rome is the only city to host two stages, a race from Carrolton into the city and then an individual time trial later that same afternoon.

Rome's stages have been described as pivotal to the entire race. �Rome will probably have the stage that defines the way the race goes to the finish,� said Trey Smith, a local cyclist who describes himself as �groupie.� Smith is working in media relations during the event. �The course this year was made two to three times more difficult than last year, in account of the quality of the teams. Whoever wins the time trial will set the pace for the rest of the race, and is someone to put your money on.�

There will be road closings. According to Lisa Smith, at 11:15 a.m. Reeceburg Road will close to allow the riders to enter Rome coming from Polk County. Roads closing shortly after Preacher Smith Road, Rockmart Road, Dean Avenue, East 12th Street, East Main Street, Broad Street, Glenn Milner Blvd., East 3rd Avenue, East 2nd Street, East 6th Avenue and East 1st Street.

Smith explained that this will be a rolling closing with about a 45 minute interval, meaning roads beginning with Reeceburg Road will be closed for about 45 minutes, allowing ample time for the roads to be cleared and riders to pass through, and then will be reopened again. For example, Reeceburg Road, which closes at 11:15, will reopen at approximately noon.

However, Smith warned, that from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. the following roads will be closed entirely for time trails, which begin at Darlington High School: Park Road, Blacks Bluff Road, Mount Alto Road, South Hanks Street, Shorter Avenue, North 2nd Avenue, parts of East 6th Avenue and 1st Street. Excluded from this are the right eastbound lane on Shorter Avenue and the two eastbound lanes on 2nd Avenue.

Floyd County schools announced that some schools will be closing early due to the road closings. The following schools with be closing at 1 p.m.: Alto Park Elementary, Garden Lakes Elementary, Coosa Middle, Coosa High, McHenry Primary, Midway Primary, as well as Pepperell Primary, Elementary, Middle and High Schools. Bus routes will be running.

All Rome city elementary schools will be closing at 1 p.m. Rome Middle and High Schools close at 2:30 p.m. for students and 3:15 for faculty and staff. All bus routes will be running.

During the Dodge Tour de Georgia, local spectators and tourists from all over the world are expected to add at least $20-30 million to Georgia's economy, as well as raise over $2.5 million for the Tour's beneficiary, the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC), Georgia's premier comprehensive cancer initiative. The GCC's main purposes include promoting knowledge and awareness of all types of cancer, raising money for cancer research and training researchers.

Rome as well has many exciting events planned. Besides the main races, on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. the Healthy Georgia Expo will be at the transit area behind Harvest Moon on 2nd Avenue.

According to Becky Bailey, the promotions director at K98, this Expo offers things such as free healthy food for sampling, healthy living demonstrations and seminars, yoga sessions and live music from the band Blue Sky, as well as events for the kids, such as Shriners clowns and a moonwalk. There will also be a scavenger hunt sponsored by the Visitor Center of Rome and a �Cycling to Recycle� relay race for prizes.

The Coosa Valley Cycling Association (CVCA) will be selling cowbells all afternoon. According to McCormick, ringing cowbells while cyclists race past is a long time cycling tradition.

The Dodge Tour de Georgia will be broadcasted on the Outdoor Life Network on May 4 at 2 p.m. and again on May 6 at 9:30 p.m. To be a volunteer, email Arnold at [email protected]. For more information about the Dodge Tour de Georgia, see the event's official website at www.tourdegeoriga.com.

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