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Tour de Georgia off for 2009

Tiny by lucybears on

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.

Source: cyclingnews.com.

Read the complete statement at tourdegeorgia.com.

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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.

by Fred Marx on Nov 14, 2008 11:00 AM EST   0 recs

I think it's safely dead for next year

But maybe we could attach funding to the upcoming Kitchen Sink Bailout, or get Henry Paulson to commit funding . . .

by Sui Juris on Nov 14, 2008 12:03 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I think this has been said a couple times this year.

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

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Nov 14, 2008 11:02 AM EST   0 recs

Also, it was deader earlier this year.

But I agree that Lance’s comeback kept hope alive until he “committed” to the classics (not that I believe his schedule is firmly set in stone by any stretch of the imagination!)
I’m sadder than sad that it’s official…

by cg. on Nov 14, 2008 1:22 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yep, it's all LA's fault.

He has no love for cycling and that is why the Tour OF Gorgia was not able to get sponsorship this year.
Whatever . . . .

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 14, 2008 2:14 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I don't blame him...

I’m just sad that the last hope was exhausted.
Look back at older posts – I’m firmly in the couldn’t be happier he’s coming back camp.
All I’m saying is that IF he’d decided to do the race, they’ve have held a race for him!
I was camped out in Alpharetta, GA at like 6 am on the morning of the last race he road here — I haven’t seen that many people at a TdG stage IN TOTAL since then.

by cg. on Nov 14, 2008 2:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Where

did you get “blame Lance!” from cg.? This is sort of a recurring theme: we talk often of things that happen because of Lance, but there’s a big difference between things Lance does deliberately, and the way races, teams, etc. behave in an effort to capitalize (or not) on the Lance Phenomenon. I know Lance is often a hot button subject here, but let’s not go looking for provocation where it doesn’t exist.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 14, 2008 5:39 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Speaking

on behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, long time member Tom Saddlemire announced that the Tour de Georgia will not be held in 2009 but will return in 2010.
http://www.tourdegeorgia.com/

by lucybears on Nov 14, 2008 11:12 AM EST   0 recs

I hope it comes back

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.

by John.. on Nov 14, 2008 11:30 AM EST   0 recs

In order to raise funds for the 2010 edition of the Tour of Georgia...

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

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.

by crashdan on Nov 14, 2008 12:27 PM EST   0 recs

That's a shame,

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

by Katiek on Nov 14, 2008 12:41 PM EST   0 recs

Boo

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.

by ant1 on Nov 14, 2008 12:52 PM EST   0 recs

Armstrong should have commited to racing the TdG

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.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 14, 2008 12:57 PM EST   0 recs

If this comeback was really about more than him he would have been there, to help the TdG.

Why? By that logic, Lance owes it to every iddy-biddly little bike race on the calender that can’t pay its bills. His come back, he’s said, is supposed to be about taking his cancer message to an international audience – he’s cracked the states, it’s time to take it global. How does riding a race in Georgia bring his message to an international audience? Where has he said his come back is about helping US cycling?

It would be interesting to understand what exactly the problem is. Is US racing suffering, either because of the effects of LA’s retirement and the cumulative effects of Hamilton and Landis? Is it simply suffering from the credit crunch? Rite Aid, Jittery Joe’s, Toshiba and the Toyota United have all folded – why? Why are some claiming that it’s difficult to find good, young US riders to hire?

In terms of the TdG – it’s one door closes, another opens, isn’t it? The Tour de New York is expanding to six days for 2009. That’s an August race, isn’t it? Perhaps the Tour de Georgia organisers should reconsider their place in the calender. Rather than going head to head with the busiest part of the European season, a handful of mid-sized US races held in August / September would make it more worthwhile for European squads to jet across the Atlantic to ride them. Position US racing strongly in the calender, where it can build on its strengths and increase its profile on the international stage.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 14, 2008 1:22 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I am not solely blaming Lance

but I believe he could have saved the race for one more year, as I said above, it’s still the Tour’s organizers responsibility to put on an event. Plus this isn’t a “iddy-biddly little bike race”, it’s one of only 3 major races in the US, were it happens Lance comes from and lives in. He has been the face for US cycling for the past decade and he attracts huge crowds in the US. Now to US cycling suffering, I believe that the reason it is suffering is that it just simply isn’t popular here and it doesn’t get enough exposure to become more popular. It was more popular when Lance was riding, but how many Lance Armstrong’s come along in a lifetime. I think Americans believe that if there isn’t an American who is winning a lot in a sport, why watch. They can see Americans dominate in baseball or American football, or basketball, so they watch those instead. Just like in the real football, were Americans are not as good in, it isn’t popular here, the same with F1 for example, popular all over the world but not in the US. I do believe that cycling can become bigger here but it will need to get a lot more exposure. Imagine the tour on ABC for instance, or Paris-Roubaix live on ESPN. That won’t happen but it could get a lot more people to see the beauty of cycling and get into it.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 14, 2008 1:44 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

but how many Lance Armstrong’s come along in a lifetime.

Well you had Greg LeMond kick-starting it, then you had Armstrong and then you had Hamilton and Landis to handle the legacy and now you have mini Phinney to take you into the future. Seem to come round often enough.

Instead of propping up the TdeG, LA can ride races like Amstel (which this year was on one day before TdeG started) and the Flèche and LBL (which were on during it). If you’re selling a message, take it to the biggest stage. And those three races are bigger than the TdeG.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 14, 2008 2:08 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

You can't compare Landis, Phinney, and Hamiliton to Armstrong

it’s not about the riders who are hyped up to be great, it’s about those that actually achieve greatness. Fans in the US will get excited again when someone wins a Tour again. Lemond wasn’t riding in my lifetime, and he wasn’t riding in many young people’s lifetime, while Landis and Hamilton are a disgrace, and Phinney hasn’t accomplished much yet. So for many people there has been only one Lance Armstrong in their lifetime.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 14, 2008 2:40 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

April, not August

The TdG takes (took?) place in late April. And why is he racing the Cali tour if he’s going for international awareness?

by ant1 on Nov 14, 2008 4:46 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

It's

a nice warmup race. Probably the best of its kind right now, as long as we don’t pretend everyone is there to win.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 14, 2008 5:41 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Warm up for what though?

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 14, 2008 6:44 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

March

Look at who attends. Quick Step, CSC, Rabo — teams gearing up for the classics.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 14, 2008 7:05 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

You do see it as an international race then, not just for the local riders. And we both agree that April is the cruellest month for it, in that case.

Were Quick Step at it this year?

Move it to March and you position it when – between ToC and Paris-Nice or during Paris-Nice? Not after I don’t think – anything after Paddy’s Day conflicts with the classics.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 14, 2008 8:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

No

Because it’s too many time zones away. Everyone wants to be back on Ghent time by March 1. Then P-N, then MSR, then the cobbles for rea.

Seriously, if you follow the Friel logic, ToC is like zone 3-4 training racing. Exactly what people want in Feb, apparently; no more, no less.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 15, 2008 2:00 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

D'oh!

I think I must have had my Friday head on – you’re talking about Cali aren’t you, not Georgia? I thought you were talking about Georgia. Cali’s cool were it is, but Georgia needs to move.

Where would you put Georgia on the calender?

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 15, 2008 5:45 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Agreed

You wouldn’t get all the Euro teams if it wasn’t a perfect training rendezvous.

by dheadrick on Nov 15, 2008 12:01 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Meh

I hear you Phil, but the TdG needs a long-term plan. Riding Lance’s coattails for a year wouldn’t put them on the road to success; if anything, it would enhance their chances of failure once Lance inevitably departs, again.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 14, 2008 5:42 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah I agree they do

but they are clearly are looking for one, and it’s good to see them continue to try to find better sponsors and get the event going again. I had just hoped he would race next year to give them more time to find a long-term plan, while still holding the event.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 14, 2008 5:52 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Problem with the Tour de Georgie is the corny name.

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.

by ZoeRochelle on Nov 14, 2008 2:02 PM EST   0 recs

And I agree about the name!

It’s always bugged…

by cg. on Nov 14, 2008 2:39 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

All I hear

if Bob Roll’s voice in my head when I think of it….. ouch.

by cg. on Nov 14, 2008 2:40 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Not a Bob Roll fan?

Sorry to hear that, even though I think he’s been getting more bland each year. He was pretty darn funny in the beginning.

Speaking of announcers, Al Trautwig’s first year was completely inane. Maybe that’s why Bob was so funny. However, I will say that Al got a lot better in the next couple of years.

by dheadrick on Nov 15, 2008 12:06 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I like bob (although he seemed really subdued this past year).

But it drives me nuts the way he says Tour DE France! (So I have transference to Tour DE Georgia. :)

by cg. on Nov 15, 2008 9:58 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Admitting upfront that I live in GA,

I will always defend TdG as the very best in US racing. Granted Calif is a scenic race but it doesn’t have drama. (And I love ToM and would go there again but it’s so very flat and even less dramatic. It’s more of a victory lap to end the season [to me].)
There’s nothing more amazing in the US than the race up Brasstown Bald.

by cg. on Nov 14, 2008 2:34 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Problem with Cali (and I live in Cali) is that we have epic mountains rides

but its too early in the year and there is still snow or the chance of snow on them.

by ZoeRochelle on Nov 14, 2008 3:42 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah

I always thought you could get away with Tour de – in Louisiana, maybe coastal Mississippi, but that’s probably about it.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 14, 2008 5:43 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I really enjoy the blame LA for everything concept.

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?

. . . . . . . . ?

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 14, 2008 2:27 PM EST   0 recs

He should just come clean and admit what he's done

The world needs to know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Nov 14, 2008 3:27 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Hey....

totally off topic but note for you – Cross this weekend. Southside. Lansing. Tempting to come out isn’t it? ! ?! !?

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Nov 14, 2008 3:39 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Do you know it's supposed to snow!!!

I’ve been out of town the last 4 weekends, so I’m sitting on the couch, eating cheetos and not moving. Have fun!

by PopUp Rolen on Nov 14, 2008 3:46 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

The snow might be the best part!

Ha ha! BBQ and drinks after the 3’s get done racing. Plus this weekend added collegiate races in the mix.
I think their could be some Cross on ctv early Sunday morning, which sounds way warmer than being out but I’m heading out anyway. Too much fun and it’s coming to a close quickly here.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Nov 14, 2008 4:33 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Lance really stole The Dude's rug

Lance wrote the final episode of Soprano’s and Seinfeld, the Star Wars prequels and the final installment of Indiana Jones.
Lance knows how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Blow Pop, but he’s not telling.
Before Lance bullied the press, it was the Keating 6.
Lance told Buddy Holly he should fly to Fargo

by PopUp Rolen on Nov 14, 2008 3:45 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

You want a toe? He can get you a toe, believe me.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Nov 14, 2008 4:15 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I blame him

for this conversation. Maybe he’ll make it stop.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 14, 2008 5:44 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Chris, I think it is time that you accept . . . .

 . . . . the Sonics left Seattle because of Lance.
Oh and the reason why UDub hasn’t won a football game all season? Lance

And all that psycho critical mass crap every month that really does nothing constructive and just pisses everyone off; even most cyclist? That’s right Lance is totally in on that stuff too!

Look, he stole PopUp Rolen’s chili cheese fritos. This kind of stuff has to get out so the world will learn what sort of diabolical mad man Lance really is.

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 14, 2008 11:18 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Heh

You lost me at Sonics. I was raised in Boston. But I do feel bad about the chili cheese fritos.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 15, 2008 2:01 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yea, it's all Lance's fault

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.

by sminer on Nov 14, 2008 3:23 PM EST   0 recs

Nailhead, meet hammer.

If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have time to do it again?

by CannonDowell on Nov 14, 2008 3:29 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Close, but...

now that Haimar’s gone over to the dark side, I’d go with Anton or Astarloza. Seriously, though, we’re all cycling fans here just getting some entertainment, right? Some like Lance, some don’t. I prefer Moncoutie.

by huy on Nov 15, 2008 12:33 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I don't have to defend myself because it's my opinion

and it’s not yours, deal with it. I can feel however I want to, you will have your opinions and I’m going to have mine and that’s how it will be.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 14, 2008 3:35 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Whether Lance deserves blame or not

There’s no doubt that attendance has greatly decreased since his last appearance at the TdG. It’s made the attendance and economic impact figures the TdG throws around seem wildly overstated.

Landis’ crash and burn didn’t help either, he could have offset some of the decline had he come back as Tour de France champ in 2007.

by mysterion on Nov 14, 2008 3:47 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Not pointing fingers... just a reminder: Cafe Rules...

1. No personal attacks. Attack a concept or position respectfully to your hearts content but the people who have the opinion are entitled to their opinion.
2. No politics.

Try to stay at the top of this.

If all else fails, look a this picture, then this picture, then this picture immediately prior to posting.

Carry on…

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.

by crashdan on Nov 14, 2008 5:11 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

That macaque pic made me so happy

I may never argue with anyone ever again.

by majope on Nov 14, 2008 5:22 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

It's hard to resist the power of a monkey carrying a snowball...

… also good is the Japanese Macaque in a hot spring.

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.

by crashdan on Nov 14, 2008 5:26 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Lame!

The real ones have snow on their heads.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 14, 2008 6:12 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Purist...

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.

by crashdan on Nov 14, 2008 6:27 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

tee hee... the chart's bottom layer says ass hat... tee hee

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Nov 14, 2008 5:26 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Don't worry about the minority/majority

There are plenty of fans on this blog that have your back for most pro-Lance statements, and just don’t go down the road with the haters.

by dheadrick on Nov 15, 2008 12:17 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

It depends what form of hater you use

from the very informational urban dictionary:
Def.1 A person that simply cannot be happy for another person’s success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person.
Hating, the result of being a hater, is not exactly jealousy. The hater doesnt really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock somelse down a notch.

Def.2
Overused word that people like to use just because someone else expresses a dislike for a certain individual.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 15, 2008 12:58 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

If you actually pay attention to some of the comments about LA, you’ll find that some who you class as ‘haters’ actually defend LA from time to time. It’s not as black-and-white as simply calling people who criticise him ‘haters’ suggests.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 15, 2008 12:57 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Speaking Truth

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

Why did they ever disconnect the toll free Barfko Swill Hotline ??? WHY !!!???

by FrankEffinZappa on Nov 14, 2008 3:35 PM EST   0 recs