Australian Nathan O'Neill of Team Saturn won today's 2.6-mile Prologue of the Dodge Tour de Georgia with a time of 4:58.22. American teammate Chris Horner finished only four seconds behind him with a time of 5:02.55 for second place, and New Zealander Gregory Henderson of the 7UP-Maxxis team finished third by only 25-hundredths of a second with a time of 05:02:80.

As one of four Saturn riders to finish in the top 10 of today's Prologue, O'Neill initially had reservations about the course. "I wanted to do well but didn't think the course suited me," O'Neill said, "but I gave it 100 percent and let the bike and my experience take over once I left the gate." 

Tomorrow's 136-mile Stage 1 race will kick-off at 10 a.m. at Augusta Commons with three opening circuits and conclude at approximately 3 p.m. with three closing circuits, finishing at Central City Park in Macon.   

Eighteen top American and international cycling teams, totaling more than 140 professional riders, are competing in the six-day Dodge Tour de Georgia. The race covers more than 600 miles (965 km), going through the host cities of Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Pine Mountain (Callaway), Rome, Dalton, Gainesville and Atlanta. Dodge Tour de Georgia is the only stage race of this length in the U.S. that is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for 2003, and one of only five races in the U.S. on the official UCI calendar.

Turner South will be airing a one-hour show recapping the entire Dodge Tour de Georgia on May 3 at 2 p.m. EST.

Results (2.6 miles):
1 Nathan O'Neill, Saturn, Aus 04:58:02
2 Chris Horner, Saturn, USA  0:04
3 Gregory Henderson, 7UP-Maxxis, NZl  0:04

Overall rankings:
1 Nathan O'Neill, Saturn, Aus 04:48:00
2 Chris Horner, Saturn, USA  0:08
3 Gregory Henderson, 7UP-Maxxis, NZl 0:10

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