Follow The USA Cycling event participants from Augusta to Alpharetta on their 530 mile trek throughout Georgia.



Your package includes a $500 gift certificate for a rental vehicle of choice, hotel lodging and airfare.



Dodge Tour de Georgia is an annual, world-class, professional cycling stage race and series of city festivals across Georgia.



The 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia begins on Tuesday, April 19, with all of its pageantry in historic downtown Augusta, along the banks of the Savannah River.



Stage One will challenge The Masters of cycling as they traverse 120 miles across Middle Georgia to its finishing circuit in the Song and Soul of the South, Macon. It will be an ideal day for the sprinters to make a lasting first impression as they race to the city that musical legends Otis Redding, the Allman Brothers, James Brown and Little Richard have all called home. Macon has hosted stages in both 2003 and 2004, while Augusta was a host city in 2003.



Stage Two will test the sprinters once again, as the race continues along its clockwise course in charming Fayetteville, one of the two new host cities. Turning northwest for a 120-mile battle, riders will sample a challenging mix of Georgia's diverse terrain along the way to the finish line in Rome, nestled on a peninsula between the Etowah, Oostanaula, and Coosa rivers.



Stage Three, on Thurs. April 21 in Rome, brings with it a difficult 18-mile Individual Time Trial from this "City on Seven Hills."



The first of two mountain stages, Stage Four, begins in Dalton, among the lush green Appalachian Mountains, where riders will begin a steady climb up toward the ominous North Georgia Mountains lurking in the east. Dalton has hosted a stage start since the tour's inception in 2003. Before finishing 130 miles later in the gold rush mountain village of Dahlonega, the riders will have crossed five mountain passes, including the famed Three Gaps.



Stage Five on Saturday, April 23, 2005, will once again present one of the greatest days in North American stage racing when the Tour charges from the shores of Lake Lanier and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Gainesville and heads north, deeper into the mountains to its finish high atop Brasstown Bald (Towns Co.). Voted the best day of racing in 2004 by VeloNews Magazine, this 115-mile stage will separate the pack after a grueling day in the saddle and four mountain passes including the fabled Unicoi Gap and the legendary Hogpen Gap, where the winds howl and the asphalt melts. After careening down Hogpen Gap at speeds in excess of 65 miles an hour, teams will work hard to deliver their best climber to the base of Brasstown Bald Mountain. While considered a short climb of only 3.5 miles, intense pitch changes of up to 21 percent and wicked switchbacks ensure a maximum effort and an exhilarating finish atop Georgia's highest peak.

After 530 miles of racing, the sixth and final stage begins along the northeast border of Georgia in idyllic Blairsville, a town of 700 and the other new addition to the Tour. Blairsville will serve as the northeast turning point, and from there, the route heads south into Metro Atlanta for a tough finishing circuit finale in Alpharetta after which a new race champion will don the Dodge Tour de Georgia winner's jersey.



Rental Vehicle

Enjoy your choice of a $500 gift certificate for a vehicle rental from Avis, Enterprise or Hertz. Rent a vehicle with Avis Assist Navigation or XM Radio from Avis or Hertz NeverLost Navigation and/or Sirus radio from Hertz. Consider a luxury collection vehicle from Hertz such as a Jaguar. Valid one year from event date and restrictions apply.

Lodging

• Monday, April 18, 2005 (Augusta, GA)
  Courtyard by Marriott Augusta-Enjoy a one-night stay including breakfast valid one year from event date.
• Tuesday, April 19, 2005 (Fayatteville, GA)
  Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Airport South 10 miles from Fayetteville, GA- Enjoy a one-night stay including breakfast valid one year from event date.
• Wednesday, April 20 & Thursday, April 21, 2005 (Rome, GA)
  Courtyard by Marriott Dalton located 45 minutes from Rome-Enjoy a two-night stay including daily breakfast valid one year from event date.
• Friday, April 22 & Saturday, 23, 2005 (Dahlonega, GA)
  Renaissance Pine Isle Resort and Golf Club located 45 miles Dahlonega- Enjoy a two-night stay including daily breakfast (room service or dining room) valid one year from event date.
• Sunday, April 24, 2005 (Alpharetta, GA)
  Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta- Enjoy a one-night stay including breakfast valid one year from event date.

This package includes round-trip coach class service for two from any American Airlines destination in the 48 contiguous United States to anywhere American Airlines flies in the 48 contiguous United States subject to availability. The winning bidders can upgrade their coach class airfare to first class for $750 per person subject to availability. Note: On three class flights upgrade is to business class. A minimum of 14 days advance booking is required as is a Saturday night stay. The winning bidders will be able to earn AAdvantage miles in accordance with the terms and conditions of the AAdvantage frequent flyer program. Miles cannot be utilized to upgrade these coach class certificates to a higher level of service. The certificates will have a one-year expiration date from the date issued and all reservations are subject to availability.



Any airport departure or taxes (if charged) are the responsibility of the winning bidder. Ground transportation is not included in this package.



Note: The closest airport to Augusta is Greenville Spartan (GSP) - 99 miles from Augusta, GA.



Yellow Jersey Club Tickets



High bidder will receive 2 tickets to the Yellow Jersey Club for the 3 of the 6 days including the grand finale
The Yellow Jersey Club is the official VIP Hospitality Venue for the Dodge Tour de Georgia. This private, reserved hospitality experience provides the perfect place to catch all of the daily action, lead changes and sprint to the finish!

Admission to the Yellow Jersey Club includes:

• Close proximity to course Finish as well as the Awards Stage


• Delicious Buffet


• Beer and Wine Bar


• Closed Circuit Television Viewing of Live Dodge Tour de Georgia Action


• Access to VIP viewing areas


• Opportunity (on select days) to get an insiders view of cycling from former Lance Armstrong teammate, and current Dodge Tour de Georgia Competition Director, Kevin Livingston


• Opportunity to interact with event sponsors as well as local and state governmental officials