June 21, 2004 – National champion Dom Perras is riding with the Canadian
National Team at the G.P. de Beauce. After each stage, will be asking him a few questions.

Pedal: Dom, yesterday the G.P Beauce ended off. How did it go for you,
and how did it play out?

Perras: Yesterday’s stage was just like the
previous ones, they let a break go early but with no one within five
minutes of the leader overall, hoping to calm things up. I tried a bit in
the first lap of the finishing circuits but quickly saw that the Poles
wouldn’t let me go, and that riders at eighth or tenth overall where
chasing me too to protect their places and UCI points. Anyway, a group of
six established, with Charles in it. We all thought they would make it as
they had a good gap, and I tried pretty hard behind with three laps to go
to jump away to move up a few spots overall to no avail. We ended up
catching back all but one of the fading break, and I managed to get fifth
in the sprint.

Pedal: Now that Beauce is over, how do you feel it went
for you?

Perras: All in all it’s been a fairly good week for me. I was
able to follow the strongest riders on the true crucial day (Stage 2) and
for most of Megantic, however this has also penalized me as I was too
close overall to be allowed to get in any the breakaway – that’s how smart
teams control, by letting breaks up the road with no one within ten
minutes.

Pedal: Are content with your result and form? Looking forward
to Kamloops next weekend, with its hill?

Perras: I would have liked to
finish a few position higher (of course one always does if one doesn’t
win), but my condition is pretty good and finishing fifth in a sprint on
the last day means I did not finishing too tired. I am looking forward to
the
National Championships. I heard the hill is hard, so I believe in my
chances.

Pedal: Thanks Dom, good luck in Kamloops.

Perras: Thanks
Matt, see you there.

June 17, 2004 – National champion Dom Perras is riding with the Canadian
National Team at the G.P. de Beauce. After each stage, will be asking him a
few questions.

Pedal: Dom, an important and tough day today, finishing on the Megantic
climb. What did you think of how the race progressed? Take us through it.

Perras: Yes Matt, today was the crucial day for the overall classification.
I have to say, hats off for the effort of the three riders in the early, and
long, break. You know, it is so hard to keep going with only three on those
draining, up and down roads – plus you need at the very least five minutes
at the base of Megantic to have a chance to make it, even as ATI kept a
steady pace behind.

Pedal: So ATI was keeping it pretty steady?

Perras: Yes, but even in this steady tempo you always have to fight a bit
for position, to be first out of the wind as much as possible and to
have a second “in case” something happens – like if someone puts it in the
gutter for real. You just never know; I lost 8th overall in Langkawi like
that). Andrew Randell and Eric Wohlberg especially did a fantastic job all
day, putting me in an ideal position at the base of Megantic, while Corey Jay
and Ryan McKenzie went back for bottles many times. Eric is always a true
team player and it’s great to have teammates like that. I have been racing
in various teams or the national team with him since 1993 (Magicuts) and
have always had a great team partnership with him.

Pedal: Good to hear. So you got to the bottom of the climb, then what
happened? How were the legs?

Perras: Right, Megantic. I followed the first group until about 3km to go
when Brozyna went pretty hard. Then I tried to keep my tempo and not to
blow. We kept our distance until the last kilometer, and for some reason I
blew on the last 200m; I always have trouble in that section. I ended up
15th at 1min 45, and dropped to 12th overall. Anyway, I was hoping for a
bigger performance, but I truely did all I could with what I had so I have
no regrets. Tommorow I will still have to push in the TT, and will
definitely try to shake things up on Sunday. It’s a hard circuit so things
could still change.

Pedal: Thanks Dom, good luck tomorrow.

Perras: Thank you very much!

June 17, 2004 – National champion Dom Perras is riding with the Canadian
National Team at the G.P. de Beauce. After each stage, will be asking him a
few questions.

Pedal: Dom, another day with a break that got quite a bit of time. How did
it go?

Perras: Matt, today was an easy day to read, as it was obvious the Polish
teams
would let a group go with none of the contenders from GC. As expected,
after a few attacks they let a group of 13 go away – of course without any
of
the 17 of yesterday.

Pedal: So was that according to plan? In your favour?

Perras: Well, we had two: Eric and Charles, which would be ideal for a stage
win. In the main group it was just a “tempo” day, with the Poles keeping
the gap below 10 minutes as there was no point in killing themselves. But
you know, still, 180K in the very hilly (and bad) roads here is still
tiring.

Pedal: And as a G.C. rider you have to be alert, stay at the front in case
there are splits, right?

Perras: Yes, it’s a bit stressful for G.C. riders as one has to be near the
front at all times, just in case something happens. You know, I was a bit
tired today because of the long day I had yesterday. But it’s tommorow that
the true
race will happen. I know this climb well and I am hoping to do something
special up there.

We will see!

Pedal: Thanks Dom, good luck up Megantic tomorrow.

Perras: Thanks, and talk tomorrow!

June 15, 2004 – National champion Dom Perras is riding with the Canadian National Team at the GP de Beauce. After each stage, will be asking him a few questions.

Pedal: Dom, how was the first stage of Beauce today?

Perras: Well Matt, the race was actually really easy, considering the parcours. It was a real watch and wait game. It was a bit surprising and it was the opposite of last year when the war was on. The fact that it is shorter (125K) than other stages, and a bit of a hill, would make one think it would be like that again, but it wasn’t.

Pedal: So how did you feel?

Perras: Well, I felt okay, but it’s hard to say when races aren’t too difficult.

Pedal: So what about the upcoming stages? What’s your plan?

Perras: I think tomorrow will be way harder. I’s almost always like that. After a wait-and-see day, the battle is on again. I think it should be tougher each day. But I am ready for it.

Pedal: Dom, a lot of people are wondering about the Canadian team and how it is working out given that many are vying for spots to Athens. How is it going so far?

Perras: Today for the team, there was not much to do. We just tried to cover moves – Eric and I especially.

Pedal: Good luck tomorrow Dom.

Perras: Thanks!

April 23, 2004 – Dom Perras (Ofoto/Lombardi Sports) had another good ride today, finishing in the lead group in 15th. Tomorrow's stage should suit him well, with a mountain-top finish. Pedal caught up with the National champion after his ride today.

Pedal: Dom, how was the race today?

Perras: Today was the first of the two mountain stages, so I thought it would be a bit tougher. The only thing was there was long downhilsl after the last climbs so each time a lead group formed, of maybe 10-12 guys, we would be caught by another 20 guys, sometimes more. I was always in the lead group and felt really good, but unfortunately, we'd always sit up and get caught. There was a point when Chris Wherry (Health Net) got away and we caught him, but then they were happy to let the winner, McCartney, ride away.

Pedal: But tomorrow – that looks tough.

Perras: Yeah. Tomorrow is a big climb – 1500metres, and should be really tough. It's finishing at the top so I figure there will be some major damage. I am feeling good so I hope I can go well. Armstrong is looking good too, but I have to say there were many times he was isolated up the climbs, and had only one team-mate there. So he would not push the break in order to let the other team-mates catch back on. But tomorrow, that won't be possible.

Pedal: How about your time trial yesterday? You had a good ride, top-20.

Perras: Yeah, I was pretty happy with my ride. I felt good, although I did slip a bit on the corner on the descent – I probably lost 20 seconds but I guess that's racing.

Pedal: Do you think tomorrow is the day, then, for the G.C.?

Perras: Definitely. CSC will be very tough; they have two guys in the top-ten. They will certainly be on the offensive and trying to work over Armstrong. .

Pedal: And Eric Wohlberg is riding well too, eh?

Perras: Yes, he's looking very strong in the top-ten. He and his team were a bit tired coming from Sea Otter, having taken the red eye flight, I think. So they were a bit tired the first few stages but I think Eric is feeling good again. I think we both can have good rides tomorrow.

Pedal: Thanks Dom.

Perras: No problem, Matt.

Tour of Georgia Stage 5

1. Jason McCartney (USA) Health Net Presented by Maxxis 5.40.16
2. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Saunier Duval 0.53
3. Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor Builders
4. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
5. Sergio Marinangeli (Ita) Domina Vacanze
6. Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Barloworld-Androni Giocattoli
7. Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark
8. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet — Colnago
9. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor
10. Chris Horner (USA) Webcor Builders

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15. Dominique Perras (Can) Ofoto/Lombardi Sports