Staff Writer

Tour de Georgia is ready to roll.

On Monday, April 9, a Tour de Georgia meeting was held at the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce. The Tour de Georgia will roll into Thomaston April 17.

The Department of Transportation has drawn out a map of the streets that will be blocked off around the square. According to a DOT press release, to ensure the cyclists, support staff, and fans are safe, the DOT, the Georgia State Patrol and local authorities will maintain rolling road closures to last between 45-60 minutes on the race route as the riders progress.

The race will begin at approximately 11 a.m. in downtown Thomaston and is expected to conclude in downtown Rome at approximately 5 p.m. Roads will be closed along the route before the first cyclist reaches the area and will remain closed until the last racer has passed. A Georgia State Patrol van with an “End of Convoy” sign will signal the end of the rolling closure. Significant traffic delays along the route are likely. Motorists are advised to avoid these routes at these times if possible.

Flags have been delivered to Upson EMC and will be hung around the square. Banners donated by Quad/Graphics and the flags are expected to be hung Thursday or Friday. Yard signs welcoming the riders will be put out in front yards Monday evening.

The period for ordering t-shirts has lapsed and the committee reported selling 86 t-shirts. For those who were unable to pre-order shirts, additional ones will be available on the day of the race, but those will not have the local sponsors on the back and will be sold for $17.

Ride Like the Wind is set for Saturday, April 14. Forty-one people have pre-registered and more are expected to register the day of the race. Ride Like the Wind starts at 8:30 p.m.

Make Thomaston Shine will be held on Saturday, April 14. The community is asked to come out and help get Thomaston cleaned up for the festivities on Monday and Tuesday.

In case of rain on Monday night, the Atlanta Rhythm Section and Smoke will play in the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center. The Taste of Thomaston will set up in the Civic Center as well starting at 5 p.m.

A detail crew will be on site on Monday night cleaning up for Tuesday morning.

Residents are asked not to leave their cars parked on the square overnight on Monday blocking the vendors and cyclists on Tuesday morning.

Parking will not be available in the street in front of Curves for Women and Flint River Technical College on Tuesday, April 17. These spaces will be reserved for the cycling teams.

Mayor Hays Arnold will be the official race starter this year.