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Tour de Georgia

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Fayetteville, Tyrone and Peachtree City will take centerstage in April as 15 cycling teams peddle feverishly through the state to win the champion title in the 2005 Dodge Tour De Georgia.

And local officials, who have been preparing for the event, are budding with anticipation.

“Little old Fayetteville is going to be in the national spotlight and we are very excited about that,” said Nancy Price, Main Street director and technical director for the event. “Most of the towns, the people will just be stopping through, but Fayetteville will be the focus.”

Mark Anderson and his wife, Holly, who own Bicycles Unlimited in Peachtree City, also couldn’t contain their excitement.

“It’s phenomenal,” said Mark Anderson who will assist the organizers’ efforts through Georgia Velo, a non-profit cycling club.

“We think it’s awesome,” added Holly Anderson.

The six-day stage race is expected to be held April 19-24. Various stages of the race will start in Augusta, Fayetteville, Rome, Dalton, Gainesville and Blairsville, and finish in Macon, Rome, Dahlonega, Brasstown Bald Mountain, and finally Alpharetta.

Anderson said the race could bring millions to the city and county. Last year, the race brought an estimated $35 to $70 million to the state, according to a Georgia Tech study.

“I think the general public might not understand the full economic impact,” Anderson said. “The economic impact is up in the millions.”

Brian Cardoza, president and CEO of the Fayette County Development Authority, had a hand in why Fayetteville was chosen to host the start of Stage 2 of the race on April 20. The cyclists will roll out of Fayetteville and wind its way through Peachtree City and Tyrone before arriving at the finishing circuit in Rome.

Gov. Sonny Perdue is expected to join spectators in Fayetteville, Fayetteville Mayor Ken Steele said.

“Tour de Georgia is a real coup for the Fayette County Development Authority, and we’re happy to have them here,” Steele said.

Last year, the race attracted cycling greats such as Mario Cipollino, Olympic medalists such as Bobby Julich and six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. This year, Armstrong will not participate. However, organizers are working to attract other cycling notables.

Cardoza said he is thrilled Fayetteville was chosen, so now the world will discover what he already knows. Cardoza boasts Fayette County has great schools, access to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, quality of life and character.

“We hope with the attraction to Fayette County, visitors, tourists and media, that they will see all of the things Fayette citizens see,” Cardoza said.

Cardoza hopes the national exposure will mean more jobs for the county.

“We hope that businesses will see us and give us a look,” he said.

The race is expected to begin at or near the old Fayette County courthouse. After starting in Augusta and finishing in Macon, cyclists will caravan by vehicle to Fayetteville on the morning of April 20. Cyclists will take off at noon or 1 p.m., Cardoza said.

Cardoza said the cyclists and the world will feast their eyes on the different landscapes of Fayette County.

Cardoza and Price plan to spice things up for residents who come out to watch the race. The two hope to invite vendors and a marching band, Price said.

"We want to really make this very festive,” Price said. “A lot of people will be out.”