Doesn’t this story surface, in some form or another, every year around this time? It seems like there is always a sponsorship issue, a lack of funding or something ion November, and they pull it all together over the course of the winter.

Then with Lance coming back, it seemed they worried less about the “tough economic” times.

I guess I should be thankful that I had a race of this caliber a short ride from my house while it lasted. I was hoping the big benefit of Lance’s return would be the survival of the race.

On another note, I thought that since the Tour of Georgia is a cancer fund raiser, it would fall in line with Lance’s objectives for his return. I’m sure there were several motivations for his return including raising money for cancer, but I was hoping the cancer angle would motivate him to participate and hopefully save the race.

…the Lieutenant Governor announced a line of new exercise videos: Kegel with Cagle.

but not really surprising. I hope it’s able to make a comeback in 2010.

Man, I loved that race. I took the whole week off work last year to follow it around, and was planning to do the same this year. I sure hope it comes back in 2010.

and should have done so right after he announced his comeback, like he did with the ToC and TdU. If this comeback was really about more than him he would have been there, to help the TdG. The race would have also been a good warm up for the Giro, and he would have had 2 weeks, from the end of Georgia to the Giro, to recover. If Lance would have wanted to help out US cycling than that would have been the right thing to do. But I can’t just blame one person, it’s the organizers responsibility to put on an event. Saying that I truly hope the race goes on in 2010, unfortunately it is always scheduled in a bad place. The Italians preparing for the Giro are at the Giro Trentino and most of Europe’s top riders are riding at the Ardennes.

Tour de Georgia? What’s that? My non-cycling friends even laugh at the name. Makes the whole thing seem unprofessional.

I am sure the name didn’t cause the race to be canceled but it always bothered me.

On the other hand, I think the TdG is much more exciting to watch than the Tour of Missouri. Brasstown Bald was always so epic and fun to watch even on TV. Sorry to see it off the calendar.

I think we could expound on this.

I’ll start it off –
Global Warming? Oh it is La’s fault for not advocating the Kyoto Accord and to top that, he doesn’t even drive a Prius!

Come on!
I’m sure many of of can think of more things to lay at the feet of LA for him to become responsible for.
World Peace?
Poverty?
Global Finance?

. . . . . . . . ?

I was one that thought Lance’s return would assure the TofG, but times are hard and Lance has other plans for next season. Phil H. you can’t possibly be defending yourself when we can all clearly read what you wrote at the start: “Armstrong should have commited to racing the TdG and should have done so right after he announced his comeback…” Who are you to say what Lance’s schedule should be? I’m disappointed too that it had to be cancelled because I’m a short distance away from seeing the racing action in Georgia, but I’m not about to blame Lance. If you want to blame someone blame George Bush, at least then you have a little bit of an argument.

I don’t know exactly how Ryan_Liles feels, but I get the sense he is frustrated with the majority on this site that seem to be anti-Lance. I get the sense that alot of you think of yourselves as true cycling afficianados if you boo the Lance hub-bub and cheer for Haimar Zubeldia to get a top 10 in the TdF.

I agree 100% with you on the last comment sminer. Please post more often !!

Missouri was able to line up sponsors? Is it the time of year? Is it the fact that the governor (or lt gov) of Missouri is fully behind the race? Is it the race itself? Did Georgia want to be too big for its position in the calendar? It was built up as a showcase for Armstrong when he was racing and therefore had huge amount of media coverage pretty early on… did they expect the same when he retired?
mmmmm

The roads were marked weeks before, billboards were everywhere advertising the event.
Does every women in GA have a hair appointment every week? That was the biggest complaint I heard. Then there were the local cops who let some good ‘ol boys onto the course after being cussed out. When I asked why they did that, they said “They have bigger guns than us.” If someone cussed out the Cali police, they’d be cuffed in a heartbeat, because they believed in the benefits of the race.
GA is an amazing state in many ways, but I don’t see it supporting a UCI Tour, unfortunately.
It is also rated 49th in bicycling friendly states by the LAB.
I’m afraid the culture in GA just won’t get behind this race in order for it to survive.
A shame, because Brasstown Bald rivals l’Alpe D’Huez in leg breaking ability.

GA has promoted the race, the locals just don’t support it. Why have a TV event that shows small crowds? Sponsors want positive publicity and don’t want to be associated with a negative response from the locals. as for this: "but this is just BS:

    When I asked why they did that, they said “They have bigger guns than us.”

You weren’t there. I was. If you want to call me a liar, go ahead. I can quote other marshals who had similar experiences.
Enjoy the view of your colon, cause that’s where your head is.

Sorry for the insult, I don’t take kindly to being called a liar.
All I know about the race is what I’ve seen as a spectator and than as a Course Marshal.
Either way I could see the lack of support from the people. And threats and hostile words towards the marshals and police were not uncommon. I never experienced this in Cali. Quite the opposite in fact.
You need to accept that as a factor in the loss of the TdG if you are ever going to resurrect it.
Good Luck!

..I know it’s off season and topics are thin, but I’m having difficulties finding a rational relationship between Pharmstrong and the misfortune of the ToG..

Whazzup Ken, you insulted someone? probably deleted.. hmmmm..
Chief, I think you could also explain how they flew you in to marshall the race..
That’s really great and I wish I had the opportunity, but i’m not sure it’s helping the overhead costs.

..I thought it was ToG.

WTF Ken, mets and Jets??????

HAHAHAHA!
I grew up looking at the meadowlands.. My Mom was a Giant fan. My college roomate was a Jet fan from when they were the Titans. That’s NFL/AFL days.
I made mucho dinero on the Super Bowl that Joe Willie won.
I also saw the Miracle Mets stomp Leo Derocher’s Cub team and take on the overwhelming favs the Orioles.
It was a great time to be a fan.

Rather, I would like to point out the routes of the ToC have been traditionally located in areas that have 4 primary common key indicators –
Extremely active and diverse media.
Most of the stages are done snaking through beautiful roads which is very close to highly dense populations.
The expendable income in these areas is significant.
There is a well established cycling friendly community in all of these locations.

In reality, it wasn’t that the ToC has bigger guns, but rather they chose a route that goes through communities who are very positive about cycling and have been so for decades.
It also needs to be stressed that these same communities often meet the target demographic for the sponsors of the event which only reinforces the sponsors commitment.

Conversely, the ToG has planned routes through some very beautiful parts of Georgia, but they did not take into account the prevailing demographics of the area, or the lack of media outlets their either.

Great points.
I had a great experience with the town of Summerville. They cleaned the roads where I showed them, had cheering practices and contests and shut down the town in advance of the race. When the break came into sight, they set off a crapload of fireworks and every one had a cowbell to ring. Despite my recommendation they didn’t return next year..