MACON, Georgia, 22 April 2004 — Gordon Fraser won the opening 131 kilometer (82 mile) stage race on the first day of the $100,000 2004 Tour de Georgia. The 35-year-old Canadian finished stage one in just over three hours and 18 minutes on Tuesday.
Five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong finished 28th while 2002 Italian world road champ Mario Cipollini was 30th.
Fraser, of Ottawa, also holds the lead over runner-up Ivan Dominguez, of Cuba, and German third-place finisher Jens Voigt.
Fraser has competed for Canada in two Olympics and four Commonwealth Games.
American Armstrong said earlier that he wasn’t anticipating victory here but was looking forward to the competition.
“I don’t think I have the conditioning to win here,” Armstrong said. “It has been three weeks since I have raced.
“I think my rivals may be better suited to win this year or maybe someone from the US Postal team. I mean it would be nice to win, it’s always nice to win.”
Stage favorite Cipollini, 37, did not contest the day’s final sprint. He was there with a lap to go, but faded on the last climb. Cipollini is looking for his first win on US soil.
A crash near the back of the field approaching the final climb delayed about 20 riders.
The first stage is arguably the flattest of the six-day, seven-stage event, which includes a mix of road races, an individual time trial and challenging terrain. The second stage takes the group from Thomaston to Columbus.
