BiciRace.com :: 2006 Tour of Georgia

2006 Tour of Georgia, Stage 3

Tour of Georgia, USA

Stage 3, Chickamauga - Chattanooga TT, 39.9K

20 April

Landis Repeats 2005 Georgia Glory

Landis GC Leader Again, photo: Tour of Georgia

In a repeat of last year, No-Fuss Floyd Landis (Phonak) took the Tour of Georgia time trial win and moved into the GC lead. The Phonak rider is having one heck of a spring campaign, after winning the Tour of California and Paris-Nice, and he looks svelte enough to ride his new yellow tunic to the end.

Going into today's stage the top 5 on GC was stacked with sprinters, with the exception of race leader, Yaroslav Popovych. You could bet though that the hilly parcours would weed out all but the most serious GC contenders. About one third of the way into the course the road rose upwards and then plateaued somewhat at the top of the climb before descending a very technical road into the finish in Chattanooga.

Of the major contenders for the stage win, it was José Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) that posted the best time at the intermediate check of 24'27". The word on the street was that Nathan O'Neill (Health Net-Maxxis) was feeling pretty keen prior to his start. He thought the course favored him and we all know he can ride a good TT.

Phil Zajicek (Navigators) crossed the finish line with a time of 59'16" giving him one of the best times thus far. However, barely five minutes later José Enrique Gutierrez scorched the course with the fastest time yet of 55'37"14 Just as he was doing that No-Fuss Floyd was at the midway point on the course having just set the fastest intermediate check at 24'01". It seems his rather unorthodox time trial form is pretty effective.

Danielson Looks ready to Repeat, photo: Tour of Georgia

When the TT specialists started coming into the finish the best times of the day predictably began to tumble. First, Nathan O'Neill rolled across the line with a time of 55'09". A few minutes later it was Dave Zabriskie's turn. He clocked in a stellar finishing time of 54'38" putting him at the top of the heap. But it was to be short lived. Tom Danielson roared across the line with an amazing time of 54'18". That is no small feat given that last year the rider from Colorado finished nearly a minute adrift of Landis in the TT.

Landis' time beat Danielson's, but only just. His time of 54'14" was just 4 seconds faster than Danielson. A margin that narrow is sure to create a real slug fest between Phonak and Discovery Channel on the Brasstown Bald Stage.

Zabriskie Jams to Third, photo: Tour of Georgia

Popovych, who can ride a TT, was still out on the course, but it wasn't to be his day. Toward the latter stages the Ukrainian rider struggled a bit on his crono machine, coming in with a respectable 56'07". That gave him seventh best place on the stage. Not bad, but far off the mark of the Phonak-fast-man, Floyd Landis.

With the win Landis has now snatched the leader's jersey off the shoulders of Yaroslav Popovych. Keeping Danielson from getting it, however, will be no easy task. Keep your browser locked on BiciRace.com for more drama in the Peach State.
- Paco

Results:
1 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak 54'14"
2 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 0.04
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 0.24
4 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Health Net-Maxxis 0.55
5 José Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak 1.22
6 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel 1.38
7 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro 1.41
8 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel 1.52
9 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 1.53
10 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir-Saunier Duval 1.56
11 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC 1.59
12 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak 2.03
13 Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro 2.46
14 Piotr Mazur (Pol) Prodir-Saunier Duval 3.15
15 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel 3.17
16 Egoi Martínez (Spa) Discovery Channel 3.30
17 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators 3.38
18 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net-Maxxis 3.50
19 Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators 3.57
20 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quick-Step
21 Danny Pate (USA) TIAA-CREF 4.01
22 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC 4.02
23 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak 4.05
24 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Phonak 4.15
25 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Quick-Step
26 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net-Maxxis 4.21
27 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 4.23
28 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 4.32
29 Andrew Bajadali (USA) Jelly Belly 4.35
30 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 4.37
...

GC:
1 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak 10:27'45"
2 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 0.04
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 0.24
4 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Health Net-Maxxis 0.55
5 José Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak 1.22
6 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 1.37
7 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel 1.38
8 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro 1.41
9 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel 1.52
10 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Prodir-Saunier Duval 1.56
11 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC 1.58
12 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak 2.03
13 Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro 2.46
14 Piotr Mazur (Pol) Prodir-Saunier Duval 3.15
15 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel 3.17
16 Egoi Martínez (Spa) Discovery Channel 3.30
17 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators 3.38
18 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net-Maxxis 3.50
19 Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators 3.57
20 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quick-Step
21 Danny Pate (USA) TIAA-CREF 4.01
22 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC 4.02
23 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak 4.05
24 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Quick-Step 4.15
25 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net-Maxxis 4.21
26 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 4.23
27 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 4.32
28 Andrew Bajadali (USA) Jelly Belly 4.35
29 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 4.36
30 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak 4.41
...