Tour de Georgia Bike Race Canceled Again

Cycling officials say if a major sponsor isn't found for the Tour de Georgia the race could be gone for good.

By: Associated Press | WSAV-TV
Published: January 04, 2010

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ATLANTA (AP) - Cycling officials say if a major sponsor isn't
found for the Tour de Georgia the race could be gone for good.
The 8-year-old tour was canceled in 2009 as the economy
faltered. Officials announced last week it won't happen this year,
either.
That puts the race - one of the nation's top professional
cycling events that brings $30 million annually into the state - in
danger of closing for good.
Tom Saddlemire, a board member for the Tour de Georgia
Foundation Inc., said the event needs a sponsor willing to spend up
to $1 million. The 600-mile race is usually held over six days in
the spring.
Experts say the Georgia race is widely considered a warm-up
event for the annual Tour de France, the World Series of cycling.