April 21, 2008 – The 2008 Tour de George, features seven stages over 960km/600 miles, from April 21-27 beginning today in Tybee Island, Georgia with a 115.6km stage though Chatham Country. The Tour de Georgia sprang up six years ago as America’s answer to the European stage races and has witnessed some spectacular growth and racing over the years. Arguably now upstaged by Medalist Sports other venture, the early season Tour de California, the Tour de Georgia still presents seven tough days of racing where America’s best aim to make their mark on a field including some of the world’s best riders.

Look for teams racing the Tour de Georgia to have three distinctive agendas – teams who have done well in the early season. For example Slipstream Chipotle presented by H30 and Team High Road, will be looking to continue their winning ways. These team will be riding in support of their stronger riders who are starting to ramp up towards mid-season goals like the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. Look for top performers such as George Hincapie (Team High Road) or Tyler Farrar (Slipstream Chipotle presented by H30) riding at the front in support of Thomas Lövkvist Team High Road) and Tom Danielson (Slipstream Chipotle presented by H30).

Teams who haven’t done as well as they’d liked in the early season, or in Astana’s case, those who have been snubbed by grand Tour Organizers, will be looking to make a statement. Astana claimed the overall at the Tour of California in early February and claimed a strong win by Alberto Contador at the recent Vuelta al País Vasco. Look for Astana’s Levi Leipheimer to race is heart out around the Peach Tree State.

Other teams on board include domestic-based squads looking to make a name for themselves or their riders. The big news for Canadian fans is that BC-based Symmetrics will be on the start line adding to the Canadian flavour at Georgia with Canadian strongman, Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United), competing as well.

The Tour de Georgia is one of the première events on the North American calendar and a win here can be a springboard for greater things — remember Jason McCartney’s (Team CSC) solo win on stage 5 in 2004. If a young opportunist can sneak away on one of the rolling stages, he might be able to fend off the field for a career win. Riders will be attacking for personal glory and Team managers will be encouraging them because a win here is sure to make the sponsors happy.

Riders to Watch

GC Win

Levi Leipheimer (Astana); motivated because of the non-selection of his team to the Tour de France and in his peak years, look for him to make a statement.

Tom Danielson (Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30): So far Danielson has failed to live up to expectations in Europe as the next Lance Armstrong, but stateside he’s a threat – especially on the slopes of Brasstown Bald.

Bobby Julich (Team CSC); Week-long stage races are Julich’s forte and look for his experience to shine through.

Darkhorses

Santiago Botero (Rock Racing); He can time trial and he can climb. The lack of racing recently will either leave him stale or well rested.

Phil Zajicek (Health Net presented by Maxxis): While possibly not a contender for the GC outright, Zajicek is capable of a good performance on Brasstown and a great performance could be all he needs for the victory.

Stage Wins

Jason McCartney (Team CSC): McCartney has made Tour de Georgia his own personal playground dating back to his days with Health Net. Look for McCartney to be active on the days through the rolling hills.

Dominique Rollin (Toyota United Pro Cycling Team): Rollin is having a career year and look for it to continue at Tour de Georgia. Lethal in both a sprint and a break way, your guess is as good as mine as to how the win will come, but look for it.

Svein Tuft (Symmetrics): The Olympics are just around the corner and Tuft has eased into the 2008 calendar. With Hesjesdal and Rollin having banner starts so far this season, look for Tuft to make the case for his selection to Bejiing.

Ivan Dominguez (Toyota United Pro Cycling Team/ Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing)/ Juan José Haedo (Team CSC)/Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics): If the opportunistic riders can make it stick, look for any of these three to take it in a sprint.

Leon Van Bon (Trek/Marco Polo Cycling Team: His team may be an unknown quanity, but Van Bon isn’t. When Tafi showed up to Georgia a few years back, he demonstrated how strong years of classic ridings can make you. Expect no less from Van Bon.

Cam Evans (Symmetrics: Symmetrics has some of the most exciting U25 talent in North America in Christian Meier and Cam Evans. Evans is now a marked man after his victory over Sevilla at San Dimas but if he can get off the front with some good breakaway companions, it’s going to take a concerted effort to chase him down.