The pro cycling peloton invades Georgia next Tuesday through Sunday for the 600-mile, 6-stage Ford Tour de Georgia bike race. Unless you live in the Peach State, your chances of catching live coverage are nil.
Most of us will have to follow the action through live race updates posted at VeloNews or Cycling News, which really isn't bad because we can sneak looks on our office computer during work.
Don't expect to find as much coverage as offered by Amgen Tour of California in February. That inaugural race had deep pockets from AEG, a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, which pledged $35 million over five years to get the race going. That translated into online live video streaming at the Tour of California website and nightly half-hour recaps on ESPN2.
Here's a rundown of where to catch TdG:
TV:
2-2:30 Sunday WSB-TV, Atlanta: preview show;
Comcast Video on Demand: special Tour de Georgia programming in April;
Cyclysm Sunday, 5-7 p.m. (ET) April 30 on OLN.
Radio:
Radio Tour Channel: developments broadcast for team managers and staff over 450.8875 mhz during race week (this is a commercial UHF frequency that can be received by most scanners, not regular radios. Can be pulled in within about 20 miles from the race);
Updates on 680 The Fan and ESPN Deportes 1320 AM;
Live remote with cycling guests (Greg Lemond) from Montana's Bar and Grill in Alpharetta from 8-10 p.m. Saturday, April 22 on 99X FM.
Web:
Live updates at VeloNews and Cycling News and updates and pictures at Tour de Georgia.
When to follow the race:
Tuesday, April 18: Stage 1 — Augusta to Macon, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19: Stage 2 — Fayetteville to Rome, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 20: Stage 3 — Chickamauga to Chattanooga (Tenn.), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday, April 21: Stage 4 — Dalton to Dahlonega, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 22: Stage 5 — Blairsville to Brasstown Bald, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 23: Stage 6 — Cumming to Alpharetta, 12:30 to 6 p.m.
Among the top cyclists competing this year are Floyd Landis (Phonak), Tom Danielson (right), Yaroslav Popovych, and Viatcheslav Ekimov (Discovery Channel), David Zabriskie (Team CSC) and Robbie McEwan (Davitamon-Lotto). Information on all 15 bicycle racing teams is available here.
More information on the teams and host cities is available at the Tour de Georgia website.
The race has been upgraded to a 2. Hors Classe rating by the Union Cycliste Internationale. It's the highest rank achieveable for a bicycle race outside Europe. The bike race rating system is explained here.
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