[Heidi]

from cyclingnews:

The Tour de Georgia has been called off for 2009, with organisers citing 'tough' economic times as the reason, according to the Savannah Morning News. The race's future had been in doubt, but Georgia is not ready to give up on the Tour. The state's Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle said that they will use next year to focus on getting the race back on the road for 2010. Cagle, who serves as chairman of the race's board of directors, said this decision will strengthen the race in for future.

The Tour de Georgia, which began in 2003, has had difficulty with its finances despite providing a strong positive economic impact on the state. It struggled to make ends meet in 2007, and was only held after the the state of Georgia stepped in with financing.

In 2008, AT&T came in as a sponsor in January, but according to the newspaper, the organisers still failed to pay all the bills, quoting one hotel owner on Tybee Island, the site of the 2008 Tour de Georgia's opening stage, who had been stiffed for all but $8,000 of a $30,246 bill ran up by the race.

Financing aside, the biggest blow to the race may have been the failure of Lance Armstrong to include the race as part of his 2009 comeback. Armstrong's attendance in 2004, the year he won the race, helped grow the event into a premiere race which attracted several ProTour teams and drew thousands of fans. When Armstrong revealed his early 2009 season plans, he included the Tour of California, but opted to head to Europe in April for the Spring Classics.

On a positive note, Dieter Drake, the Anthem Sports CEO, informed Cyclingnews that the increasingly popular Tour of the Battenkill may fill the Tour de Georgia's spot on the UCI calendar. The Classics-style race with dirt roads and numerous climbs in Cambridge, New York, has been given permission to apply for a late addition to the UCI calendar for an April 18-19, 2009 slot.

 

[Heidi]

Seriously, Lance should have signed on for that race...even if it wasn't to win. It's the US dammit.

 

[sanjuro]

Thanks George Bush!

 

[ire]

Russia invaded them, what do you expect

 

[splat]

Unfortuantly that is teh way Big time Stage racing in this country goes.

They start off stron g the first year then Fizzle out , Like the Coors Classic , Tour De Trump , Tour Du Pont , The Red Zingher ,etc ,etc.

Not sure How The blame goes to George Bush ????

Is the Ore-Ida Womens Stage race still around ?

 

[ire]

Is the Ore-Ida Womens Stage race still around ?

Huh? Oregon has the Hood and Willamette stage races, was there another one?

 

[dhmike]

no bueno .

 

[splat]

Huh? Oregon has the Hood and Willamette stage races, was there another one?

yes But I guess after 20 Years it had its last hurah in 2002

http://velonews.com/article/3412

 

[maddog17]

Unfortuantly that is teh way Big time Stage racing in this country goes.

They start off stron g the first year then Fizzle out , Like the Coors Classic , Tour De Trump , Tour Du Pont , The Red Zingher ,etc ,etc.

Not sure How The blame goes to George Bush ????

Is the Ore-Ida Womens Stage race still around ?

wow Splat, you really dug deep in the memory vault for the Ore-Ida race!

 

[Heidi]

Huh? Oregon has the Hood and Willamette stage races, was there another one?

And I thought I read Hood was expanding this year!