Team Type 1’s roster for the race will be Emile Abraham (TRI), Moises Aldape (MEX), Fabio Calabria
(AUS), Glen Chadwick (AUS), Chris Jones (USA), Valeriy Kobzarenko (UKR), Ian MacGregor (USA) and Matt Wilson (AUS).
Two challenging stages in the mountains near the end of the race favor the climbing ability of Chadwick,
Jones or Wilson, while the flatter stages in the beginning are best suited for Abraham’s sprinting ability or a breakaway
by Aldape, Calabria, Kobzarenko or MacGregor.
“I think it’s a really solid squad as long as everyone stays healthy,” Team Type 1
Sport Director Ed Beamon said. “We should able to contribute to an aggressive race and put on a good show and hunt for
some stages.”
The race gets underway Monday at 10:30 a.m. with the 120 riders on 15 teams pedaling 70.4 miles (113.3
km) from Tybee Island to Savannah.
Beamon is no stranger to the Tour de Georgia, having directed a team in each of the past five editions
of the race. Five years ago, he coached Henk Vogels to victory on Stage 1 and the Australian strongman held the overall lead
for the next three days.
Already this season, Team Type 1 has won five races and compiled 17 podium finishes, including second
place overall at the Tour de Taiwan with Shawn Milne and second on the team classification at the Tour of Langkawi.
Team Type 1’s pre-race preparations included reconnaissance rides earlier this week of Stages 5 and 6.
Friday’s Stage 5 is the longest of the race, 133.4 miles (214.6 km) from Suwanee to Dahlonega, while Stage 6 finishes
with a tortuous climb up Brasstown Bald mountain after 88.4 miles (142.2 km).
“We’ll be ambitious the first two stages, but honestly, our opportunities are a little bit
better on the third and fifth stages – which are harder days,” Beamon said. “Those stages will probably
lead to some breakaway opportunities.”
Stage 3 is 108.2 miles (174.1 km) from Washington to Gainesville and comes a day before Thursday’s
team time trial at the Road Atlanta Grand Prix race track in Braselton. On that day, each team will put all eight of its riders
together for four circuits of the hilly, 12-turn track. Two teams will be on the track at a time and the team's time will
be taken from the fifth team member across the line.
Milne was unable to be named to the team’s Tour de Georgia roster after breaking his thumb in a
crash at the Redlands Bicycle Classic two weeks ago. Also sidelined by injury is Team Type 1 co-founder Phil Southerland,
who would have been competing in his “home” state (he lives in Atlanta), Jesse Anthony (Achilles tendon) and Daniel
Holt (broken wrist).
“We’ve had injury after injury and after injury,” Beamon said.
Two other Team Type 1 riders who have battled injury or illness will be on the start line Monday. Past
Australian national road champion Wilson will see his first racing action since breaking his wrist in a training ride crash
March 19 and Glen Chadwick has recovered from a bout with Epstein-Barr Virus following the Tour of Langkawi in February.
Team Type 1 is also inviting fans to visit the team’s sponsor booth Sunday, April 26, at Centennial
Park in Atlanta. Part of the Health & Wellness expo, the booth will feature Team Type 1 sponsors Dex 4, Nuun, OmniPod
and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Tour de Cure. Product samples, information and the chance to win prizes will precede
a free autograph session by members of Team Type 1 following that day’s race.
