By CHRIS REINOLDS, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alpharetta, Ga. police Officer Doug French helped cycling superstar Lance Armstrong avoid the groupies on Sunday.
Before the Lance patrol, French hopped on his Cannondale police model F600 series, 27-speed mountain bike to patrol the Tour de Georgia event and guard Armstrong’s recreational vehicle.
At the last minute, the Tour changed Armstrong’s exit point to a loading dock to avoid the fans. But the fans caught on, and at least 250 surged toward the loading dock before Armstrong made his exit to an Alpharetta hotel for the night.
At 35, French can be an imposing presence on a bike — with his football player frame and shaved head.
“We can get into smaller places and sneak up on things you can’t get to in a car,” French said. “On a bicycle, you can ride right up to people, and they don’t know until it’s too late.”
Sunday’s event, French said, made one thing clear: residents in north Fulton County only know one way to get from point A to point B.
“As a public service announcement — try to learn an alternative route,” French suggested.
When French’s shift ended, he didn’t have an awards ceremony or rock-star girlfriend waiting like Armstrong — just the traffic-clogged streets of Alpharetta.