Tybee Island, Ga. — Team Type 1 brings an arsenal to the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T that is equipped to deliver a stage win during the seven-day, 590-mile (949.5 km) race that begins Monday.

Team Type 1’s roster for the race will be Emile Abraham (TRI), Moises Aldape (MEX), Fabio Calabria (AUS), Glen Chadwick (AUS), Chris Jones (USA), Valeriy Kobzarenko (UKR), Ian MacGregor (USA) and Matt Wilson (AUS).

Two challenging stages in the mountains near the end of the race favor the climbing ability of Chadwick, Jones or Wilson, while the flatter stages in the beginning are best suited for Abraham’s sprinting ability or a breakaway by Aldape, Calabria, Kobzarenko or MacGregor.

“I think it’s a really solid squad as long as everyone stays healthy,” Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon said. “We should able to contribute to an aggressive race and put on a good show and hunt for some stages.”

The race gets underway Monday at 10:30 a.m. with the 120 riders on 15 teams pedaling 70.4 miles (113.3 km) from Tybee Island to Savannah.

Beamon is no stranger to the Tour de Georgia, having directed a team in each of the past five editions of the race. Five years ago, he coached Henk Vogels to victory on Stage 1 and the Australian strongman held the overall lead for the next three days.

Already this season, Team Type 1 has won five races and compiled 17 podium finishes, including second place overall at the Tour de Taiwan with Shawn Milne and second on the team classification at the Tour of Langkawi.

Team Type 1’s pre-race preparations included reconnaissance rides earlier this week of Stages 5 and 6. Friday’s Stage 5 is the longest of the race, 133.4 miles (214.6 km) from Suwanee to Dahlonega, while Stage 6 finishes with a tortuous climb up Brasstown Bald mountain after 88.4 miles (142.2 km).

“We’ll be ambitious the first two stages, but honestly, our opportunities are a little bit better on the third and fifth stages – which are harder days,” Beamon said. “Those stages will probably lead to some breakaway opportunities.”

Stage 3 is 108.2 miles (174.1 km) from Washington to Gainesville and comes a day before Thursday’s team time trial at the Road Atlanta Grand Prix race track in Braselton. On that day, each team will put all eight of its riders together for four circuits of the hilly, 12-turn track. Two teams will be on the track at a time and the team's time will be taken from the fifth team member across the line.

Milne was unable to be named to the team’s Tour de Georgia roster after breaking his thumb in a crash at the Redlands Bicycle Classic two weeks ago. Also sidelined by injury is Team Type 1 co-founder Phil Southerland, who would have been competing in his “home” state (he lives in Atlanta), Jesse Anthony (Achilles tendon) and Daniel Holt (broken wrist).

“We’ve had injury after injury and after injury,” Beamon said.

Two other Team Type 1 riders who have battled injury or illness will be on the start line Monday. Past Australian national road champion Wilson will see his first racing action since breaking his wrist in a training ride crash March 19 and Glen Chadwick has recovered from a bout with Epstein-Barr Virus following the Tour of Langkawi in February.

Team Type 1 is also inviting fans to visit the team’s sponsor booth Sunday, April 26, at Centennial Park in Atlanta. Part of the Health & Wellness expo, the booth will feature Team Type 1 sponsors Dex 4, Nuun, OmniPod and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Tour de Cure. Product samples, information and the chance to win prizes will precede a free autograph session by members of Team Type 1 following that day’s race.

Culver City, Calif. — Rock Racing will field a line-up for the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T that includes a world time trial champion, an Olympic gold medalist, Tour de France yellow jersey, polka-dot jersey and white jersey wearers and a three-time U.S. national road race champion who is also a four-time Tour de Georgia stage winner.

Rock Racing’s roster for the seven-day, 600-mile (965 km) stage race includes: Santiago Botero (COL), Tyler Hamilton (USA), Victor Hugo Peña (COL), Freddie Rodriguez (USA), Oscar Sevilla (ESP), Michael Creed (USA), Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) and Kayle Leogrande (USA). Mariano Friedrick is the team director.

Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball said the squad is ready despite its late entry into the event. Rock Racing learned of its acceptance into the 15-team field late Tuesday after ProTour entry Saunier Duval-Scott was forced to withdraw due to a rash of injuries.

“The riders selected to represent us are well-suited to the challenging course, particularly the team time trial and decisive climbing stages that come later in the week,” Ball said. “Our line-up is nearly identical to the one that helped us win the overall and King of the Mountains title at Redlands two weeks ago.”

At that race, Botero showed the form that won him the 2002 world time trial, three stages of the Tour de France and the King of the Mountains title at that race in 2000. He soloed to victory on Stage 1 en route to a 54-second margin in the final overall standings. Supporting him were Hamilton (2004 Olympic time trial champion), Peña (wearer of the yellow jersey for three stages of the Tour de France in 2003), Sevilla (winner of the white jersey as best young rider at the Tour de France in 2001) and Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, with four stage wins and nine podium finishes to his credit, is one of the most decorated cyclists in the six-year history of the Tour de Georgia. The three-time U.S. national road race champion has twice won the race’s sprint classification (2003 and 2006) and finished second overall in the race’s inaugural edition (2003). Rodriguez’s most recent stage victory came last year during Stage 6 at Stone Mountain Park.

Ball said Rock Racing is also pleased to be a founding sponsor of the Tour de Georgia, which begins Monday in Tybee Island. As a founding sponsor, Rock Racing joins Wal-Mart, General Electric, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Blue Cross and others who have pledged to support the race at the highest level.

“My commitment to cycling is long-term and I am proud to support this world-class race which has featured such winners as Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis,” Ball said. “As a tribute to the state of Georgia and to the rich tradition of this race, we plan something special for the final stage, so stay tuned.”

During the Tour de Georgia, Rock Racing fans will have an opportunity to purchase official team merchandise from Thursday through Sunday at Stages 4 through 7. Rock Racing Trackside is part of the race’s Health & Wellness Expo that is adjacent to each finish venue. Fans can also get autographs from their favorite Rock Racing riders before and after each stage of the race.

On the other side of the country, Rock Racing will field a full eight-rider squad for the Sea Otter Classic SRAM Circuit Race Saturday at the Laguna Seca Raceway in California. On the roster for the 71-mile (114 km) National Race Calendar event are: Rahsaan Bahati (USA), David Clinger (USA), Peter Dawson (AUS), Sergio Hernandez (USA), Kevin Klein (USA), Rudolph “Rudy” Napolitano (USA), Adam Switters (USA) and Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA).

Atlanta – Team Type 1, a first-year professional team that has twice won the Race Across America corporate team division, will be among 15 squads at this year’s Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T.

Team Type 1 was founded in 2004 by racers Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming obstacles often associated with the condition. Four of the 15 riders on the Team Type 1 professional squad – Southerland, Eldridge, Tim Hargrave and Fabio Calabria – have Type 1 diabetes.

“This is great news for Team Type 1, and it is a major stepping stone toward our hopes of getting to the Tour de France in 2012,” Southerland said. “Being a native of Georgia, it means the world to me to be able to take part in the biggest race in the state, if not one of the most prestigious in the entire country.”

The 660-mile race begins Monday, April 21 on Tybee Island and ends with a circuit race through the streets of Atlanta on Sunday, April 27. The Tour de Georgia is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious stage races in the United States.

Eldridge said Team Type 1’s berth in the race – which is now in its sixth year – is a major milestone in sports for people with diabetes.

“For the first time, we’ll have riders with diabetes racing against guys who will be competing in the Tour de France,” Eldridge said. “This is our opportunity to show the diabetes community, as well as fans of pro cycling, what we are able to achieve.”

The eight racers who will represent Team Type 1 in the race will be announced at a later date by Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon and Assistant Sport Director Vassili Davidenko.

Beamon said the squad will have its sights set on a stage win and not necessarily the overall individual or team classification.

“With the terrain that Georgia presents – up and down and rolling – we’ll put a squad together that will be good in that arena,” Beamon said. “Field sprints won’t be for us and realistically, with the climb up Brasstown Bald mountain (on Stage 6) being such a decisive element in the classification, trying to win the race overall would be a real reach for us. However, that stage will be a good opportunity for Chris Jones to show what he can do.”

Team Type 1 has already experienced success this season on the international stage, having finished runner-up at the Tour de Taiwan with Shawn Milne last week and second in the team classification at the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia in February.

Next up for Team Type 1 is the San Dimas Stage Race in San Dimas, Calif., March 28-30.

Photo: Courtesy: Marco Quezada

The Daily Peloton had a newsy story earlier this week on the now sixth annual Tour de Georgia April 21-27.

Big news includes five new venues and a team trial for the seven-day race.

By stage:
Stage 1: Monday, April 21, Tybee Island, to Savannah
Stage 2: Tuesday, April 22, Statesboro to Augusta
Stage 3: Wednesday, April 23, Washington to Gainesville
Stage 4: Thursday, April 24, Road Atlanta/Braselton (team time trial)
Stage 5: Friday, April 25, Suwanee/Gwinnett County to Dahlonega
Stage 6: Saturday, April 26, Blairsville/Union County to Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns County
Stage 7: Sunday, April 27, Atlanta (circuit race)

Brasstown Bald Mountain, which is the property of the National Forest Service, is the highest peak in Georgia (4,784 feet). It has become the signature “Queen Stage” of the Tour, showcasing the mountain region of the state.

The last three days of the Tour of Georgia have been, well, interesting.

Daniele Contrini's Stage 1 win reminded me of a Points or Scratch race in track cycling where there's a prime (pronounced "preem," a prize within a race) involved on certain laps. Usually some of the lesser (less experienced or lacking in form) riders will go hard to collect the primes because they know they can't win the race. In Contrini's case, his team, Tinkoff Credit Systems, is extremely short handed at the moment, not only in this race but overall as their management has had to scramble for riders (they recently signed Jorg Jaksche). If you know you don't have the team to challenge for the overall, what better time to go for a win but on the first stage?

Next, Day 2 saw Ivan Stevic (Toyota-United) dupe the sprinters and come up with a big win. In essence, Stevic (like Popovych last year) stole the show from an anticipated mass sprint.

Then yesterday, Stage 3 saw some of the big favorites go almost 30 minutes down in the overall, with Gianni Meersman (Discovery Channel) claiming the title of strongest breakaway rider.

Foregone Conclusion
After three stages and with the upcoming climb up Brasstown Bald, the contender list for the overall in the Tour of Georgia has seemingly been pared down to two individuals, and to two ProTour teams: David Canada Gracia (Saunier Duval - Prodir) and Janez Brajkovic (Discovery Channel).

It'll be strangely interesting to see the climbing support both Canada and Brajkovic get from their all-star cast of domestiques:

Saunier Duval - Prodir
Gilberto Simoni
David Millar
Ruebens Bertogliati

Discovery Channel
Levi Leipheimer
Tom Danielson
George Hincapie (see inset; already handling the bidon chores)
(Photo: Photo Sport International)

The 2007 Tour de Georgia may not have a major sponsor, but the April 16-22 seven-stage race will have some major names: George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer and Tyler Hamilton

Hincapie, the USA Cycling pro road champ, ordinarily would be targeting the European spring classics. But having broken a wrist in the Tour of California, he switched his priorities and will use the Georgia race as the beginning of his Tour de France preparation.

Leipheimer, winner of February's Amgen Tour of California, last raced Georgia in 2005, finishing second.

For Hamilton, Georgia marks his return to top-level U.S. racing after a two-year doping suspension. He now rides for Tinkoff Credit System.

Fifteen teams have accepted invitations to race in the 667-mile event, including ProTour teams CSC, Discovery Channel, Saunier Duval-Prodir, Quick Step-Innergetic and Predictor-Lotto.

In what may go down as one of few cycling grassroots (and I use that term facetiously) efforts, the Tour of Georgia Board of Directors (Georgia Partnership of Economic Development), has decided to run this year's race despite their inability to secure a main sponsor. Normally, a race that still lacked significant financial backing, a reported million dollars, weeks and even days before its start would be canceled. But apparently, the American cycling community has spoken (without any real protest, or even a sit down). In one muted voice of spandexed solidarity, we've managed to convince the State of Georgia, or at least their tourism board, that our interest hasn't waned since Lance left, and that we may still possibly be growing as a fan base.

In the end, history will bare out the facts, and we only have to wait until next year when the Tour de Georgia may be just that, history.

Tour of Georgia Schedule:
Stage 1: Monday, April 16 - Peachtree City to Macon
Stage 2: Tuesday, April 17 - Thomaston to Rome
Stage 3: Wednesday, April 18 - Rome to Chattanooga, Tennessee
Stage 4: Thursday, April 19 - Chickamauga/Walker County to Lookout Mountain (Individual Time Trial)
Stage 5: Friday, April 20 - Dalton to Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns County
Stage 6: Saturday, April 21 - Lake Lanier Islands/Hall County to Stone Mountain Park/Dekalb Country
Stage 7: Sunday, April 22 - Atlanta (circuit race)

The Tour de Georgia is looking for a new title sponsor.
Even before the summer's drug scandals surrounding the Tour de France, the Ford Dealers Advertising Association of Georgia told organizers it was dropping sponsorship of the 2007 stage race, according to the Macon Telegraph.

Yes, I'm tardy with this considering National Look Alike Day was yesterday. But given Floyd Landis' new (old school, Greg Lemond) aero position, which has garnered him two ITT wins this year (one yesterday at the Tour de Georgia) I couldn't resist. (We'll try to give you a more in-depth breakdown of his position later, once one of us has completed an aerospace engineering course! )

Woody Marshall/The Telegraph
Jessie Mae Walker, a resident at the Dempsey Apartments,
waits for the Tour de Georgia to pass her on Cherry Street Tuesday afternoon.

Will the crowds be up or down at the Tour de Georgia?
According to George Henry's account in the Associated Press Wednesday morning, "The other notable difference between this year's race and last year's was the size of the crowds greeting the rider. Last year, huge crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Lance Armstrong. Without the retired seven-time Tour de France champ, the number of spectators dwindled to the levels of the inaugural Georgia event that Armstrong skipped three years ago."

But Phillip Ramati of the Macon Telegraph reported that there wasn't much of difference in the size of the crowds: "Though this year's Tour de Georgia doesn't have Lance Armstrong competing, crowds still showed up in downtown Macon to watch the race. "Fears that the absence of the seven-time Tour de France winner, who retired last summer, might mean many fewer fans seemed unfounded - at least at the end of the stage, where a good-sized crowd gathered on Third and Cherry streets.

"Although police spokeswoman Sgt. Melanie Hofmann said no official crowd estimates were available, many observers said the crowd was only slightly smaller than last year's."