April 27, 2008 (Atlanta, Georgia) — Once again US fans watched one of their “grand” tour events fell into the hands of a Pro Tour squad as Team High Road’s Kanstantin Sivtsov (Blr) maintained his slim lead on the overall leader’s jersey to win the 2008 Tour De Georgia. Through impeccable team tactics, High Road ensured that there would be no unwelcome surprises to spoil the victory they knew they had secured during yesterday’s tough fight to the top of Brasstown Bald.

For stage 7, the Tour De Georgia returned to the capital of the Peach State for another circuit race for a soggy day in downtown Atlanta. Once again the parcours consisted of 9.76km/6.1 mile loop around the streets that surround the Olympic Centennial Park area of the city. Almost immediately a large break formed that included 2007 Canadian road champ Cameron Evans (Symmetrics). With no GC threats in that move, the break was allowed to hover at nearly a minute for the entirety of its lifespan.

With Evans’ teammate, Jacob Erker, alongside him in the break, Symmetrics had hopes that this move might stick, particularly since all of High Road’s concerns for the day were back in the peloton. Without a stage win to their credit so at the Tour, the Canadian S-Team would look to Evans, or perhaps to Andrew Pinfold back in the field with the other sprinters if the bigger teams decided to do the work and extinguish the hopes of the break.

The long week of racing finally began to show on he peloton as several of the riders opted to abandon the race rather than press on through the inclement weather. Two Rock Racing riders (Kayle Leogrande, Santago Botero), along with Sebastian Lang who left the field not long after a crash and a heated exchange with Health Net’s Matthew Crane.

With Sivtsov’s stronghold on the overall, and the King of The Mountains jersey secure on the back of Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC (who walked away with that prize back in 2006), the Points competition was really the only prize left in the balance. With Team High Road smartly taking control throughout most of the race, Bob Stapleton’s men could not only safeguard the yellow jersey, but also position their sprinter Greg Henderson (Nzl) for a shot at getting some of the final points necessary to firmly lock down that competition.

As the stage drew to a close, and the roads dried up, conditions became ideal for the highly anticipated sprint finish. Relentlessly, Evans fought hard in the final lap to keep the break alive as long as possible. Rock Racing worked hard to shut things done, and position their sprinter Freddie Rodriguez for a possible win. But it was not to be. High Road’s Henderson decided it was up to him to put the capper on a great week for his team.

Henderson beat J.J. Haedo and the rest of the heavy-hitting fast men in the field to take the stage, and all the points needed to finish safely in the sprinter’s jersey. Not to be outdone Canada’s Pinfold edged his way through to secure third for Symmetrics’ well-earned, and well-deserved podium spot, as the 2008 Tour de Georgia came to a close.

Results

1. Gregory Henderson (Nzl) Team High Road 2.23.53 (42.075 km/h)
2. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC
3. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
4. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing
5. André Greipel (Ger) Team High Road
6. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30
7. Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner
8. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team
9. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
10. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana
11. Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC
12. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
13. Chris Horner (USA) Astana
14. Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Team Type 1
15. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
16. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team
17. Thomas Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
18. Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
19. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC
20. Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Team High Road
21. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team
22. Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30
23. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
24. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing
25. Stephan Schreck (Ger) Gerolsteiner
26. Leon Van Bon (Ned) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team
27. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team
28. Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1
29. Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
30. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
31. Roman Kireyev (Kaz) Astana
32. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
33. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
34. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30
35. Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner
36. Francois Parisien (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
37. Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1
38. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana
39. Bradley McGee (Aus) Team CSC
40. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
41. Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Astana
42. Iñigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Spa) Team CSC
43. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
44. Glen Chadwick (Aus) Team Type 1
45. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
46. Michael Lange (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
47. Aaron Tuckerman (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
48. Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30
49. Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team
50. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team
51. Ian MacGregor (USA) Team Type 1
52. Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner
53. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Rock Racing
54. Victor Hugo Pena (Col) Rock Racing
55. Jai Crawford (Aus) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team
56. Thomas Danielson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30
57. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
58. Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC
59. George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road
60. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
61. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Rock Racing
62. Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team High Road
63. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
64. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana
65. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
66. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
67. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team High Road
68. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30
69. Kari Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
70. Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0.25
71. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
72. Jeremy Vennell (NZl) Bissell Pro Cycling
73. Craig Lewis (USA) Team High Road
74. Evan Elken (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 0.31
75. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
76. Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1
77. Aaron Olson (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
78. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
79. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
80. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team
81. Matt Cooke (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 0.41
82. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0.45
83. Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team
84. Rhys Pollock (Aus) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team
85. Matthew Shriver (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team
86. Jared Barrilleaux (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 0.59
87. Lucas Euser (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1.08
88. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
89. Ivan Stevic (Srb) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 1.18
90. Corey Collier (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 1.33
91. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
92. David Galvin (USA) BMC Racing Team
93. Justin England (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
94. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 1.43
95. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 1.49
96. Cody Stevenson (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 2.27
97. Ryan Sullivan (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team
98. Fuyu Li (Chn) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team
DNF Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
DNF Yilin Liu (Chn) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team
DNF Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Racing Team
DNF Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
DNF Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
DNF Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
DNF Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Rock Racing
DNF Kayle Leogrande (USA) Rock Racing

Sprints

1st
1. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 5 pts
2. Rhys Pollock (Aus) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team 3
3. Thomas Danielson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1

2nd
1. Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1 5 pts
2. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3
3. Jared Barrilleaux (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 1

3.
1. Justin England (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 5 pts
2. Thomas Danielson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 3
3. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 1

Finish

1. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Team High Road 15 pts
2. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 12
3. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 10
4. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 7
5. André Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 6
6. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 5
7. Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner 4
8. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 3
9. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 2
10. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 1

Final GC

1. Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Team High Road 22.44.44
2. Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 0.04
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0.14
4. Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Astana 1.02
5. Iñigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Spa) Team CSC 1.11
6. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing 1.25
7. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1.32
8. Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Team Type 1 1.37
9. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 2.08
10. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 2.31
11. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 2.39
12. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 2.49
13. George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road 3.19
14. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 3.26
15. Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1 3.29
16. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team
17. Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1 3.37
18. Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3.44
19. Francois Parisien (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3.48
20. Glen Chadwick (Aus) Team Type 1 4.13
21. Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 4.15
22. Bradley McGee (Aus) Team CSC 4.26
23. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 4.28
24. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
25. Michael Lange (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 4.34
26. Jai Crawford (Aus) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team 5.02
27. Matt Cooke (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 5.06
28. Chris Horner (USA) Astana 5.33
29. Jeremy Vennell (NZl) Bissell Pro Cycling 5.46
30. Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 6.02
31. Ian MacGregor (USA) Team Type 1 6.51
32. Victor Hugo Pena (Col) Rock Racing 7.19
33. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana 7.2
34. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team 7.22
35. Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner 7.33
36. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 8.1
37. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 8.39
38. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 8.51
39. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Rock Racing 10
40. Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC 10.02
41. Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC 10.45
42. Aaron Olson (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 10.59
43. Thomas Danielson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 11.35
44. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling 11.51
45. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team High Road 12.31
46. Stephan Schreck (Ger) Gerolsteiner 12.52
47. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 13.07
48. Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 13.54
49. Thomas Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 18.1
50. Justin England (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 20.37
51. Craig Lewis (USA) Team High Road 21.01
52. André Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 21.36
53. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 22.01
54. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 22.2
55. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 22.32
56. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 22.4
57. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 22.47
58. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 23.28
59. Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1 23.44
60. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 23.51
61. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 24.03
62. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 24.21
63. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 24.29
64. Matthew Shriver (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 24.35
65. Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 24.56
66. Jared Barrilleaux (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 25.15
67. Roman Kireyev (Kaz) Astana 25.24
68. Ivan Stevic (Srb) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 25.26
69. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 26.02
70. Kari Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
71. Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner 26.15
72. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 26.26
73. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 27.09
74. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Team High Road 27.11
75. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team 28.34
76. Leon Van Bon (Ned) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team 28.39
77. Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team High Road 29.26
78. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 29.44
79. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 29.45
80. Fuyu Li (Chn) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team 29.55
81. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 30.05
82. Evan Elken (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 30.1
83. Ryan Sullivan (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 30.28
84. Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 30.58
85. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 31.24
86. Rhys Pollock (Aus) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team 32.35
87. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 35.13
88. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 36.58
89. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 39.05
90. Aaron Tuckerman (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 39.3
91. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 41.11
92. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Rock Racing 41.32
93. Lucas Euser (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 43.06
94. Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 49.3
95. Corey Collier (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 1.00.45
96. David Galvin (USA) BMC Racing Team 1.07.31
97. Cody Stevenson (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 1.12.42
98. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 1.16.33

Points Classification

1. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Team High Road 53 pts
2. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 35
3. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 28
4. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 27
5. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling 25
6. André Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 19
7. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 17
8. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 16
9. Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 15
10. Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Team Type 1 15
11. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 13
12. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 12
13. George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road 10
14. Ivan Stevic (Srb) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 10
15. Justin England (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 10
16. Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Astana 7
17. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing 6
18. Rhys Pollock (Aus) GE Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team 6
19. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 5
20. Bradley McGee (Aus) Team CSC 5
21. Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 5
22. Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1 5
23. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 5
24. Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 5
25. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 5
26. Thomas Danielson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 4
27. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 4
28. Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner 4
29. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 3
30. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 3
31. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 3
32. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3
33. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 3
34. Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2
35. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 2
36. Kari Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 1
37. Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 1
38. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 1
39. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana 1
40. Stephan Schreck (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1
41. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 1
42. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 1
43. Jared Barrilleaux (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 1

Mountains Classification

1. Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC 18 pts
2. Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 16
3. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 13
4. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 13
5. Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Team High Road 12
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 12
7. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana 12
8. Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Team Type 1 11
9. Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 10
10. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing 10
11. Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1 10
12. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 10
13. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 9
14. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 6
15. Craig Lewis (USA) Team High Road 5
16. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 5
17. Iñigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Spa) Team CSC 4
18. Stephan Schreck (Ger) Gerolsteiner 4
19. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 4
20. Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Astana 3
21. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 3
22. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team High Road 2
23. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2
24. George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road 1
25. Lucas Euser (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1
26. Glen Chadwick (Aus) Team Type 1 1

Young Rider Classification

1. Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 22.44.48
2. Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3.4
3. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 8.06
4. Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC 10.41
5. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team High Road 12.27
6. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 13.03
7. Craig Lewis (USA) Team High Road 20.57
8. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 22.36
9. Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1 23.4
10. Jared Barrilleaux (USA) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 25.11
11. Roman Kireyev (Kaz) Astana 25.2
12. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 25.58
13. Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner 26.11
14. Ryan Sullivan (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 30.24
15. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 39.01

Teams

1. Astana 68.17.50
2. Team CSC 3.3
3. Team Type 1 4.56
4. High Road 6.13
5. Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 6.49
6. Symmetrics Cycling Team 8.1
7. BMC Racing Team 9.32
8. Health Net Presented by Maxxis 12.01
9. Rock Racing 12.25
10. Gerolsteiner 17.07
11. Bissell Pro Cycling 18.09
12. Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 29.42
13. The Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team 37.07
14. GE Trek-Marco Polo Cycling Team 44.03
15. Jelly Belly Cycling Team 49.5