Amateur cyclists completed the Inaugural BriarRose Grand Peloton just hours before the pros, having raised $51,700 for the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the official beneficiary of the Ford Tour de Georgia...
While 120 of the best professional cyclists in the world dazzled thousands at the finish line in Alpharetta at the conclusion of the six-day Ford Tour de Georgia on April 23, 164 amateur cyclists received special attention at the same finish line for their mission to beat the race against cancer. These amateurs completed the Inaugural BriarRose Grand Peloton just hours before the pros, and have raised $51,700 for the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the official beneficiary of the Ford Tour de Georgia.
Riding the same 25-mile route as the professionals from Cumming into Alpharetta, these men and women from 11 different states, took a more leisurely pace to the finish line, but the impression they made coming across that line made just as big a statement. For many of the participants in the BriarRose Grand Peloton, who traveled from as far away as California, Colorado and Michigan, the bicycle ride from Cumming was all about defeating cancer.
"Teaming with the Tour and the BriarRose Grand Peloton, we now have an opportunity for Georgians, and all race fans, to actively help our friends and neighbors who are battling cancer. The proceeds from the event will help us fund innovative cancer research projects that will lead to new prevention and treatment mechanisms," said Bill Todd, president and CEO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, which as been the official beneficiary of the Tour for four years. "Having such gifted athletes like Greg LeMond and our team captains lend support in our ‘race to defeat cancer' makes this very rewarding for all the participants in the Grand Peloton."
Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond was the honorary ride director, and he was joined by former U.S. champions Norm Alvis, Mari Holden and Steve Hegg as honorary team captains. The ride participants were placed into three teams, red, white and blue, and given special jerseys with these colors to denote their fundraising levels. The Red Team was led by Alvis, member of the 1988 Olympic team in Seoul, Korea; the White Team was led by Holden, a five-time women's national champion; and the Blue Team was led by Hegg, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist.