By Linda S. Morris, The Macon Telegraph, Ga. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Jan. 23--Lance Armstrong -- the five-time champion of the Tour de France -- will race in the 2004 Tour de Georgia, which local officials hope will start in Macon.
'This is huge for the state of Georgia in terms of the national and international focus that will be in Georgia,' said Stan Holm, executive director of Tour de Georgia. 'Not only will cyclists be watching because it's Lance Armstrong, the best professional cyclist in the world, but also Lance is a personality to himself.'
This year's event -- April 20-25 -- will be the second for the Georgia road race. The Tour de Georgia is the largest multi-day stage race for professional cyclists in North America, according to organizers.
'Obviously, we are really, really, really excited,' said Dan Osipow, the general manager of Tailwind Sports, which manages and owns the United States Postal Service cycling team for which Armstrong races.
'We know Lance's presence this year, when he will be attempting a sixth Tour de France, will generate a ton of excitement,' Osipow said. 'It's a mini-Tour de France.'
This is the only race in North America he's riding in before the Tour de France which is held in July, Holm said.
Last year, Macon hosted the finish of the first stage and the start of next stage the following day. It was the only city in the state to serve as a start and a finish of stages.
The course for the 2004 race has not been officially approved, Holm said.
'But, I have every expectation of being in Macon during the course of that week,' he said.
Janice Marshall, president and CEO of the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she understands 'we have a real opportunity to not only do a start, but to do a prologue as well.'
Holm would not comment about where the race would begin this year, and said Macon officials have 'only asked' to be considered as the start city.
Marshall couldn't contain her excitement about the news the world champion would be in the race.
'I'm thrilled he agreed to do this race in Georgia,' she said. 'I think Lance Armstrong's name will attract the media to Macon, and of course, being in the convention and visitors bureau business, that kind of thing is appealing to us.'
Armstrong, 32, is not only known for his cycling prowess, but for being a cancer survivor. At age 25, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which if detected early has a promising cure rate, according to the Lance Armstrong Foundation Web site. However, Armstrong ignored the warning signs and going untreated, the cancer spread to Armstrong's abdomen, lungs and brain. With a competitive spirit, he underwent aggressive treatment and beat the disease.
Also announced this week, Dodge, which sponsored the inaugural event in 2003, renewed its title sponsorship for this year's race. The proceeds will again benefit the Cancer Coalition.
Last year, the race involved 18 teams with 144 athletes from 17 countries, who competed in a 613-mile journey across 53 counties in the state for more than $100,000 in prize money and awards.
Confirmation of the course and list of teams participating in the event will be made in early February, organizers said.
Police estimated that more than 250,000 people watched the six-day race last year, Holm said.
'This year we expect well over a million spectators just because of Lance Armstrong's presence,' he said.
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(c) 2004, The Macon Telegraph, Ga. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
