Tour de Georgia weblog

Hunt for 2007 title sponsor continues

Macon Telegraph | Tour de Georgia seeks new title sponsor

The Macon Telegraph expands on the Tour de Georgia's search for a new title sponsor, noting that north Georgia's Ford dealers exited their 3-year contract after only 1 year, and that tour director Chris Aronhalt thinks Medalist Sports will likely announce next year's route without a new sponsor in hand.

“I'm confident we're going to have one shortly," he said. "We have several members on the ground looking right now. Without a doubt, we're going to see everyone on the starting line in 2007. ... We have to make sure it's the right fit, the right partner. It's a long-term commitment. Regardless, I'm confident the tour will continue.”

About Macon specifically, chamber of commerce president Chip Cherry said the city had submitted a proposal to host a finish, or better a finish-start, in the 2007 race. Macon's revenue from Stage 1 in 2006 actually totalled $300,000 more than they brought in from the finish of Stage 1 in 2005, when Lance Armstrong was racing (and one day after his retirement press conference).

The 2007 race is scheduled for April 17th through April 22nd, 2007.

Ford out for 2007 Tour de Georgia; other sponsors sought

cyclingnews.com | Ford dealers decline 2007 Tour de Georgia

The Atlanta-area Ford dealers, who sponsored the 2006 edition of the Tour de Georgia, won't return for next year's race.

The group notified Medalist Sports, the race organizers, before the Tour de France, so the cancellation is probably not related to the possible doping positive by 2006 Tour de Georgia winner Floyd Landis.

Medalist is seeking new sponsors for the 2007 edition of the race.

The race, which organizers claim has a $26.2 million impact on Georgia's economy (pdf link), was sponsored by Dodge in 2003-2005.