ATLANTA - From the salty marshes and ocean shoreline of the Georgia coast to the majestic skyline of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 12 Georgia communities have been selected as the official Host Venues for the sixth annual Tour de Georgia, scheduled April 21-27, 2008.
The introduction of these Host Venues was announced Wednesday by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle at a press conference at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. Cagle also recognized Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's as the new beneficiary for the Tour next year.
Five new communities will host the Tour for the first time - Road Atlanta/Braselton, Statesboro, Suwanee/Gwinnett Co., Tybee Island, and Washington. Savannah hosted the overall start of the inaugural Tour de Georgia in 2003. Other returning Host Venues include Atlanta (2003, 2007), Augusta (2005, 2006), Blairsville (2004-2006), Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns Co. (2004-2007), Dahlonega (2004-2006), and Gainesville (2003, 2005).
2008 TOUR DE GEORGIA HOST VENUES
Stage 1: Monday, April 21 - Tybee Island to Savannah
Stage 2: Tuesday, April 22 - Statesboro to Augusta
Stage 3: Wednesday, April 23 - Washington to Gainesville
Stage 4: Thursday, April 24 - Road Atlanta/Braselton (Team Time Trial)
Stage 5: Friday, April 25 - Suwanee/Gwinnett Co. to Dahlonega
Stage 6: Saturday, April 26 - Blairsville to Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns County
Stage 7: Sunday, April 27 - Atlanta, Ga. (Circuit Race)
Brasstown Bald Mountain, the highest peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet, has become the signature "Queen Stage" of the Tour, showcasing the mountain region of the state.
Road Atlanta will host the first Team Time Trial of the Tour de Georgia. The individual time trial discipline has been part of the Tour since 2004. Always a highly anticipated stage of the annual Tour de France, the last significant "race of truth" for teams was held on American soil at the 1986 World Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Tour de Georgia will return for a second consecutive campaign as a seven-day professional race and maintains its position on the international cycling calendar as a major tune-up for July's Tour de France. The Tour de Georgia continues to be the longest weeklong stage race in North America with over 650 miles of scenic byways and highways across the state. It is also one of the highest ranked stage races outside of Europe with a 2.HC rating from the Union Cycliste Internationale (international governing body of cycling) and is one of the top races on the USA Cycling Professional Tour.
The 2007 Tour included 120 athletes from 23 countries. Fifteen professional cycling teams from around the world, each with eight athletes, will be extended special invitations to participate in the event by Medalist Sports. By January 2008, an announcement is expected to describe the details of the projected 650-mile route and the top teams accepting invitations.
"The continued success of Tour de Georgia generates positive value for local communities and the state and unparalleled enthusiasm for hundreds of thousands of spectators who travel to these communities for this springtime sports tradition," saud Elizabeth Newberry, the executive director for the 2008 Tour de Georgia. "We are proud that the Tour de Georgia offers a prestigious level of competition for world-class athletes, and an opportunity for many of our U.S. based to perform on home soil."
Since 2003 the Tour de Georgia has attracted 2.8 million spectators and generated over $148 million in economic impact for the state of Georgia. The event aligned with the Georgia Cancer Coalition in its first six years, to raise both awareness and revenue across the state.
On the Web: http://www.tourdegeorgia.com.
Sunday
April 27th, 2025
3:43AM
