by Trish Albert, 4-26-2003
Stage 4 Dalton to Gainesville. Southeastern Cycling interviewed several of the pro riders after stage 4. Freddy Rodruigez won the sprint finish.
Freddy Rodruigez-Sidermac
SE Cycling: What do you like most about Georgia so far?
Freddy: The sun.
SE Cycling: Has it been raining a lot in Europe lately?
Freddy: Yeah, but the weather has been pretty bad. Most of the classics are in Northern, and this time of year they are wet and overcast. To come back to
sunny weather, I've gotten burned the last 4 days. I think in time the Tour De
Georgia/ People are really involved and trying to find out what we are doing here. I think in time the Tour De Georgia can be a premier event.
Saul Raisin-Ofoto-Lomardi Sports
SE Cycling: How does it feel to be racing in your home state with all of your fans,
friends, and family here?
Saul: It's great. It's such a great experience. I'm totally excited. At the start
of today's race, my mayor gave me the key to the city. I feel so special like because like all of my friends and family were there. And on top of that I'm
the best Under 23 rider. I hope I still am. Wearing the blue jersey in my hometown. It's one of the biggest races I've ever done, and it's a great experience and I love it.
SE Cycling: So, which are you more proud of, your second place at the Boneshaker's Tundra Time Trial in February or holding the blue jersey in the Tour De Georgia?
Saul: Oh, that's a tough one. I'd say the blue jersey without a doubt.
SE Cycling: Would you like to see any changes to the Queen stage, maybe go up Hogpen or some of the other gaps that are popular with local cyclists?
S:aul That would be nice. It would totally demolish the field if they did that. I
think that'd be cool. But if they do do that, they maybe throw one or two in
one stage because if they did double six gap, it would be unreal. It would be
like today but a lot worse. Some guys probably wouldn't finish it would be so
hard.
SE Cycling: Maybe throw in one or two of the different gaps because I know Woody's is considered the easiest of all of them.
Saul: Yeah, Woody's is definitely the easiest, and Hogpen is the hardest. I can't remember the name of the other ones.
Michael Roach-Kalahari Cycling/Spectator
SE Cycling: Have you guys enjoyed watching the Tour, and what do you think it will do for cycling in our state?
Michael: Oh, we love watching it. It's great as far as getting exposure for the sport, and it's a great sport for all different abilities.
SE Cycling: Are you going to Twilight tonight?
Michael: Probably not.
Chris Horner-Saturn
SE Cycling: What do you think of Georgia so far, and in the press
conference you said you'd like it to be 5 more stages. What did you mean by
that?
Chris: Well, just give more five more stages so we have 10 total or
something. To give us a big stage race here in America. We don't have any
10 plus stages, so it would be nice to bring in one really hard 10 day
race. They've done a fantastic job with putting this on with 5 days, and
all the stages are really long. The riders appreciate being pushed to the
limit with these particular distances of racing because we don't get those
very often.
SE Cycling: Would you say that it would raise the cycling in America if we
had another long stage race because with the Tour Dupont, of course, it was
the last long stage race in America?
Chris: Absolutely I agree with that 100%. You will see riders coming out of
this race with better form then they had coming in. They will just
naturally take it to the next level.