April 22, 2004 – As expected, today's double stages created the first real opportunity to  shape the overall (GC) classification for the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia. Unexpectedly however, was the dominant performance by Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) in both stages, to take the Yellow Leader's Jersey following the stage-4 Time Trial.

Stage – 3: The morning stage-3 road race of 78-miles from Carrollton to Rome was the fastest stage thus far with an average speed of 29 MPH. Once again the action began early, very early. Landbouwkredit-Colnago's Jacky Durand had a 200-meter gap before the peloton even exited the parking lot at the start of the stage. Over the next several miles, it became clear the master of the long breakaway was intent on getting away from the field. The Health Net squad of race leader Gord Fraser worked hard to neutralize the attack, and after 20-minutes had Durand back in the fold. However, the tone for the day was now set and many more attacks were launched.

The most successful attack was initiated by Jackson Stewart (Ofoto) at mile-20. Stewart gained a lead of up to 2:30 over the next 45-miles in his solo effort, before he was absorbed just 12-miles from the finish. The fast field hit the final three finishing circuits of 2.5-miles at top speed. In front of the sizeable crowds, which seem to be getting larger each day, the US Postal and CSC squads drilled the steep pitches and kept the peloton in single file for most of the circuit. With all of the contenders watching each other for signs of weakness, US Postal's George Hincapie launched Armstrong into the lead in the last 100-meters to take the sprint victory. The ever-consistent Ivan Dominguez placed just behind and Ben Brooks (Jelly Belly) rounded out the podium. Navigators' Mark Walters scored some additional KOM points during the stage to secure the KOM jersey heading into the afternoon Time Trial stage.

Stage 4: After just a 3.5-hour break, the riders saddled up again for the 18-mile Individual Time Trial. This was no ordinary TT, as the riders had to race through wind-swept fields, up numerous hills (some requiring 39×23 gearing), negotiate fast, twisty descents, and battle the imperfections found on typical inner-city surface streets, throughout the point-to-point test. There's not too much to say about 'the race of truth', except that the strongest man usually wins. Armstrong showed his usually aggressive style, and posted the fastest intermediate times on his way to victory, with a posting of 39:51, the only rider to go under 40-minutes. Navigators' Chris Baldwin and Phil Zajicek posted good rides and spent some time on the leader board, until the latter stages of the race. Baldwin posted a 41:22, good enough for 8th on the stage.

Canada's Mark Walters will begin the tough stage-5 road race in the KOM Jersey, while Armstrong sits on top of the Overall Classification. The race has quickly become a battle between Lance, and his US Postal team, and the team of CSC.

Stage-3:
1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service)
2. Ivan Dominguez (Colavita)
3. Ben Brooks (Jelly Belly)

Stage-4: (Unofficial)
1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service)
2. Jens Voigt (CSC)
3. Chris Horner (Webcor)
3. Bobby Julich (CSC)
8. Chris Baldwin (Navigators Insurance)

Overall GC: (Unofficial)
1. Lance Armstrong
2. Jens Voigt
3. Chris Horner

KOM:
1. Mark Walters (Navigators Insurance)