April 22, 2005 (Dahlonega, GA) – Be careful what you wish for because you may get it. All the lamenting about the tardy pace was put to rest in today’s Stage 4 from Dalton to Dahlonega, GA. The race was fast and furious from the start, as Discovery attempted to put Lance Armstrong back in the game.

The stage was 214.7 km and included eighteen thousand feet of climbing. During the first of those climbs, Woody Gap, riders were treated to a hailstorm, followed by severe rain and thundershowers. A number of crashes were the result of slick roads and a wicked, windy descent. Canadian rider Mark Walters (Navigators) ended up in the hospital but was fortunate, if you can call it that, to have suffered only a nasty case of road rash. The Woody Gap climb fragmented the peloton, carving out a lead group which included Armstrong, G.C. leader Floyd Landis (Phonak”), and Jose Rubiera (Discovery) who set the pace on most of the climbs.

As the rain and the climbs continued, and riders were dropped, the lead group kept driving hard. Although a few smaller groups remained intact, most of the peloton simply imploded.

The most notable thing about the entire stage was not the show delivered by the Discovery team, but rather the way in which cycling can make paupers out of kings. Through the confluence of various factors, a rider can be on top one race and eliminated the next. Riding high in April, shot down in May as Sinatra once sang. Chris Wherry (Health Net), the winner of the 2005 Redlands Classic, placed thirtieth in today’s stage. And perhaps it is exactly this prospect of intermittent results that helps drive Armstrong’s popularity. He is one of the few riders who consistently delivers results. Yet even Armstrong struggles some times and while he upped his performance today, finishing 5th, he is sitting 8th in the GC.

The top Canadian in today’s race was Dominique Perras (Kodak Easyshare-Sierra Nevada) at 30th. Geoff Kabush was edged out by Perras and finished 31st, standing 32nd in the GC. Rounding out the top three Canadians was Jake Erker (Symmetrics), who placed 42nd and is 45th in the GC.

Thirteen riders didn’t make the time cut and were eliminated. Another fourteen did not finish and two were disqualified for a total reduction of 29 from the field. Canadian Michael Barry (Discovery) did not finish due to reported gastro-intestinal problems.

Tomorrow’s Stage 5 looks like more of the same. More mountains, including the infamous Brasstown Bald climb, more rain, more thunder, and more intense attacks, which will see Discovery riding aggressively to isolate Floyd Landis.

Dodge Tour de Georgia — Stage 4 Results

1 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC 5.33.02
2 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel
3 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval
4 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel 0.08
5 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
6 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Team L.P.R.
7 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel
8 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
9 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Team L.P.R.
11 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
12 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC
13 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel
14 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
15 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel
16 Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Prodir – Saunier Duval
17 Trent Lowe (Aus) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari
18 Danny Pate (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel
19 Saul Raisin (USA) Credit Agricole
20 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance
21 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC
22 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
23 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel
24 Justin England (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 0.29
25 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Prodir – Saunier Duval 0.33
26 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Prodir – Saunier Duval 0.52
27 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.04
28 Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 6.57
29 Daniele Masolino (Ita) Team L.P.R. 7.14
30 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada
31 Geoff Kabush (Can) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari
32 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home
33 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
34 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole
35 Nathan O’Neill (Aus) Navigators Insurance
36 Michael Lange (USA) Team TIAA – CREF
37 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval
38 Michele Maccanti (Ita) Team L.P.R.
39 Antonio Cruz (USA) Discovery Channel
40 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance
41 Portal Sébastien (Fra) Credit Agricole 13.04
42 Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
43 Brice Jones (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel
44 Michael Rich (Ger) Gerolsteiner
45 Tomasz Nose (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 13.14
46 Christian Müller (Ger) Team CSC 14.08
47 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 19.59
48 Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel
49 Timothy Johnson (USA) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari
50 John Devine (USA) USA National Team
51 Ivan Fanelli (Ita) Team L.P.R.
52 Timothy Duggan (USA) Team TIAA – CREF
53 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
54 Nick Waite (USA) USA National Team
55 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net pb Maxxis
56 Craig Lewis (USA) Team TIAA – CREF
57 Jackson Stewart (USA) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada
58 Sascha Urweider (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
59 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner
60 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
61 Niki Aebersold (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
62 Cory Lange (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
63 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Credit Agricole
64 Elia Aggiano (Ita) Team L.P.R.
65 Marsh Cooper (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
66 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel
67 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC
68 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner
69 David Robinson (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 21.38
70 David O’Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance
71 Todd Herriot (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home 23.37
72 John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
73 Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance
74 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak Hearing Systems 25.12
75 Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 32.08
76 Mark McCormack (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home 32.54
77 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home
79 Gordon Fraser (Can) Health Net pb Maxxis
80 Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
81 Andy Guptill (USA) USA National Team
82 Edward King (USA) USA National Team
83 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole
84 Jonathan Page (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home
85 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
86 Alessandro Maserati (Ita) Team L.P.R.
87 Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
88 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance
89 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team L.P.R.
90 Derek Wilkerson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home
91 Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
92 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance
HD Steven Cozza (USA) USA National Team 51.39
HD Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 54.25
HD Jonathan Sundt (USA) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari
HD Glen Mitchell (NZl) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada 1.03.05
HD Ian Macgregor (USA) Team TIAA – CREF
HD Bruno Langlois (Can) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari
HD Aaron Olsen (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home
HD Hayden Godfrey NZ’ Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada
HD Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel
HD Craig Wilcox (USA) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari
HD Michael Wolf (USA) USA National Team
HD Scott Zwizanski (USA) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada
HD Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel
DNF Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel
DNF Rafael Casero Moreno (Spa) Prodir – Saunier Duval
DNF Kilian Patour (Fra) Credit Agricole
DNF Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance
DNF Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Health Net pb Maxxis
DNF Evan Elken (USA) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari
DNF Russell Hamby (USA) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada
DNF Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada
DNF Mariano Friedick (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel
DNF William Frischkorn (USA) Team TIAA – CREF
DNF Chad Hartley (USA) Team TIAA – CREF
DNF Dan Bowman (USA) Team TIAA – CREF
DNF Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) USA National Team
DNF John Murphy (USA) USA National Team
DSQ Mark McCormack (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home
DSQ Juan Jos̩ Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil РSutter Home

Mountains

KOM 1

1 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel 8 pts
2 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 7
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 6
4 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 5
5 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3

KOM 2

1 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel 6 pts
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 5
3 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 4
4 Elia Aggiano (Ita) Team L.P.R. 3
5 Timothy Johnson (USA) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari 1

KOM 3

1 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel 8 pts
2 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 7
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 6
4 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 5
5 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3

KOM 4

1 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel 8 pts
2 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 7
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 6
4 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 5
5 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 3

KOM 5

1 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel 6 pts
2 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 5
3 Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Prodir – Saunier Duval 4
4 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 3
5 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 1

Sprints

Sprint 1

1 Juan Jos̩ Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil РSutter Home 5 pts
2 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net pb Maxxis 3
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak Hearing Systems 1

Sprint 2

1 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 5 pts
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 3
3 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 1

Teams

1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 16.39.22
2 Team CSC
3 Prodir – Saunier Duval 0.25
4 Team L.P.R. 7.14
5 Health Net Presented by Maxxis 7.35
6 Gerolsteiner 13.04
7 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 14.20
8 Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 19.53
9 Credit Agricole 20.10
10 Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari Pro Cycling Team 27.05
11 Phonak Hearing Systems 33.05
12 Team TIAA – CREF 46.56
13 Symmetrics Cycling Team 52.46
14 Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home Pro Cycling Team 1.03.29
15 USA National Team 1.12.36

General classification after Stage 4

1 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 16.47.29
2 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 0.19
3 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 0.28
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 0.50
5 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 1.00
6 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel 1.13
7 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC 1.39
8 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 1.42
9 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 1.53
10 Danny Pate (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 2.12
11 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 2.16
12 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 2.18
13 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel 2.29
14 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 2.35
15 Trent Lowe (Aus) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari 3.02
16 Saul Raisin (USA) Credit Agricole 3.33
17 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Prodir – Saunier Duval 3.38
18 Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Prodir – Saunier Duval 3.41
19 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance 3.50
20 Justin England (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 4.18
21 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Team L.P.R. 4.24
22 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel 4.46
23 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Team L.P.R. 4.50
24 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 4.52
25 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 5.21
26 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance 7.28
27 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 7.40
28 Nathan O’Neill (Aus) Navigators Insurance 7.49
29 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Prodir – Saunier Duval 9.46
30 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 9.55
31 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 10.03
32 Geoff Kabush (Can) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari 10.24
33 Michele Maccanti (Ita) Team L.P.R. 11.11
34 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada 11.37
35 Antonio Cruz (USA) Discovery Channel 12.10
36 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole 12.19
37 Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 12.26
38 Michael Rich (Ger) Gerolsteiner 15.19
39 Michael Lange (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 15.59
40 Daniele Masolino (Ita) Team L.P.R. 16.54
41 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home 17.07
42 Portal Sébastien (Fra) Credit Agricole 18.46
43 Brice Jones (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 18.59
44 Tomasz Nose (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 19.30
45 Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 19.59
46 Christian Müller (Ger) Team CSC 20.33
47 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 23.03
48 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 23.22
49 David O’Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance 24.22
50 Craig Lewis (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 24.25
51 Elia Aggiano (Ita) Team L.P.R. 24.32
52 Timothy Johnson (USA) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari 24.33
53 Timothy Duggan (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 24.40
54 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner 25.05
55 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net pb Maxxis 25.10
56 Jackson Stewart (USA) Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada 25.23
57 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Credit Agricole 25.37
58 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 25.45
59 John Devine (USA) USA National Team 26.00
60 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 26.19
61 Ivan Fanelli (Ita) Team L.P.R. 26.29
62 Cory Lange (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 26.34
63 Sascha Urweider (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 26.59
64 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak Hearing Systems 27.10
65 Nick Waite (USA) USA National Team 28.42
66 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC 28.45
67 Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 28.51
68 Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance 29.06
69 John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 29.23
70 Todd Herriot (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home 30.14
71 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 30.42
72 Niki Aebersold (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 31.54
73 David Robinson (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 34.06
74 Marsh Cooper (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 34.23
75 Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 36.09
76 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Insurance 36.22
77 Gordon Fraser (Can) Health Net pb Maxxis 37.07
78 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 38.22
79 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole 38.34
80 Mike Sayers (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 39.19
81 Edward King (USA) USA National Team 39.23
82 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home 39.24
83 Alessandro Maserati (Ita) Team L.P.R. 39.40
84 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team L.P.R. 39.57
85 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance 40.02
86 Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 42.45
87 Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 43.13
88 Andy Guptill (USA) USA National Team 43.23
89 Derek Wilkerson (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home 45.46
90 Jonathan Page (USA) Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home 51.28

Mountains classification

1 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel 36 pts
2 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 30
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 23
4 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 13
5 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 6
6 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 5
7 Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Prodir – Saunier Duval 4
8 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 4
9 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 3
10 Elia Aggiano (Ita) Team L.P.R. 3
11 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel 2
12 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 1
13 Timothy Johnson (USA) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari 1
14 Christian Müller (Ger) Team CSC 1

Sprin classification

1 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net pb Maxxis 23 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak Hearing Systems 16
3 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 15
4 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC 15
5 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner 15
6 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 14
7 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel 12
8 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 12
9 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 11
10 Michele Maccanti (Ita) Team L.P.R. 10
11 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team L.P.R. 9
12 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Prodir – Saunier Duval 8
13 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 7
14 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel 7
15 Ivan Fanelli (Ita) Team L.P.R. 7
16 Gordon Fraser (Can) Health Net pb Maxxis 6
17 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Team L.P.R. 6
18 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Prodir – Saunier Duval 5
19 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 5
20 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 4
21 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 4
22 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 3
23 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 3
24 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 3
25 Brice Jones (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 1
26 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1
27 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Team L.P.R. 1

Best young rider classification

1 Trent Lowe (Aus) Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari 16.50.31
2 Saul Raisin (USA) Credit Agricole 0.31
3 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Team L.P.R. 1.48
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.19
5 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 4.38
6 Michael Lange (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 12.57
7 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 20.20
8 Craig Lewis (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 21.23
9 John Devine (USA) USA National Team 22.58
10 Nick Waite (USA) USA National Team 25.40
11 Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 25.49
12 David Robinson (USA) Team TIAA – CREF 31.04
13 Marsh Cooper (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 31.21
14 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole 35.32
15 Edward King (USA) USA National Team 36.21
16 Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 39.43
17 Andy Guptill (USA) USA National Team 40.21

Team classification

1 Team CSC 50.24.53
2 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1.33
3 Prodir – Saunier Duval 6.31
4 Health Net Presented by Maxxis 14.36
5 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 14.40
6 Gerolsteiner 16.30
7 Team L.P.R. 17.52
8 Jelly Belly – Pool Gel 29.07
9 Credit Agricole 31.48
10 Jittery Joe’s – Kalahari Pro Cycling Team 35.25
11 Phonak Hearing Systems 37.29
12 Team TIAA – CREF 56.48
13 Symmetrics Cycling Team 1.01.16
14 Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home Pro Cycling Team 1.20.22
15 USA National Team 1.28.06