Cedartown’s Krige Schabort won the first Tour de Georgia handcycling event in downtown Rome Wednesday evening.

Days after finishing second in the wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon, Schabort took first place in downtown Rome in the criterium race. What made this event different from typical races is that the athletes raced around the course for 20 minutes. At the end of that period, they jockeyed for position in two final laps.

Schabort took the lead from John Scott Gilger, of LaGrange, Ohio, on the final lap. Gilger finished second with Morrisville, N.C.’s Todd Richardson rounding out the top three.

“This was a tremendous win,” Schabort said. “There was very little incline before you got to that last hill, which was good because not too many guys dropped off too early. … This potentially could be one of the fastest criterium courses in the world.”

Handycling results

1. Krige Schabort, Cedartown

2. John Scott Gilger, LaGrange, Ohio

3. Todd Richardson, Morrisville, N.C.

4. Rafeal Ibarra, Atlanta

5. Derek Little, Cartersville

6. Warren Strickland, Grayson, La.

7. Chad Johnson, Charleston, Ind.

8. Bob Anders, Cedartown

9. Leland Foster, Swanton, Ohi