2007 Tour De Georgia Expands to Seven Days

ATLANTA, Ga. (November 15, 2006) - As the Tour de Georgia commences its fifth year of attracting enormous crowds and world-class talent, officials announced today that the 2007 Tour de Georgia has expanded from six to seven days. The additional day of professional cycling and spectator festivities will be added to the front end of the event, scheduled from Monday, April 16 to Sunday, April 22. The week-long event will maintain its traditional 'Tour de France tune-up' slot on the international cycling calendar as a 2. HC (Hors Categorie) professional event, as announced today by Medalist Sports, the sports agency based in Tyrone, Ga. that markets and operates the event. Since it was founded in 2003, the Tour de Georgia has attracted a total of 2.3 million spectators and has hosted the world's best professional cycling teams. Over $125,000 has also been raised for the event's beneficiary, the Georgia Cancer Coalition. Two of the past four winners have also won the Tour de France in the same year of winning the Tour de Georgia: Americans Lance Armstrong (2004, United States Postal Service) and Floyd Landis (2006, Phonak Hearing Systems). In 2006 the Tour de Georgia received a 2.HC rating from the Union Cycliste Internationale (international governing body of cycling), making it one of the highest ranked stage races in the world. For the 2007 campaign, the Tour de Georgia continues as one of only five 2.HC rated events outside Europe, and also becomes one of the top races on the new USA Cycling Professional Tour, which will include 15 total races in 11 states, spanning 40 days of racing. "The Tour de Georgia has become a key, early season race for both the top European and domestic teams in only four years," said Steve Johnson, USA Cycling chief executive officer. "It's proven to be a great test and preparation for the past three winners of the Tour de France, which is very high praise. And, Georgia's version of L'Alpe d'Huez (in France), the Brasstown Bald climb, has become legendary." The challenging route for the fifth annual Tour de Georgia is again expected to cover over 600 miles of scenic roadways and communities across Georgia and southeastern Tennessee. Medalist Sports, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, will announce the official route and Host Venues on November 21 at a formal press conference. The official website, www.tourdegeorgia.com, will be re-launched that same day with the new look of the Tour. 'The growth of the Tour de Georgia is a result of the passion, support and excitement that surrounds this great event. The fact that we now have a dedicated calendar of upper echelon cycling races in America shows the growth the sport has experienced in the U.S. The Tour de Georgia not only delivers high-caliber professional cycling and attracts the best teams from all continents, but delivers solid value for sponsors and fans and the local communities,' said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner for Medalist Sports and the executive director for the Tour de Georgia. 'We've already begun the process of extending official invitations to several ProTour teams, as we truly believe that the Grand Tours of Europe begin here in Georgia. We look forward to announcing the much anticipated route and host venues for the 2007 Tour de Georgia very soon.' ABOUT THE TOUR DE GEORGIA The Tour de Georgia is North America's premier, professional cycling event and rolling festival of community activities. The Tour was first held in 2003 and has become a spring tradition with a varying route of over 600 miles of racing. Over 2.3 million spectators have traveled to Georgia to watch the event in the past four years, and direct economic impact has totaled over $121 million. The event is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI, 2.HC ranking), and USA Cycling, Inc. (USA Cycling Pro Tour Calendar), making the event one of the top stage races for elite athletes around the world. Two of the past four winners have also won the Tour de France, including 2004 champion Lance Armstrong. The Tour's official beneficiary is the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC). The Tour de Georgia is owned by the Georgia Partnership for Economic Development (GPED) and is managed by Medalist Sports (www.medalistsports.com). Route information, merchandise and sponsor information will soon be available at the official website, www.tourdegeorgia.com. ABOUT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, please visit www.georgia.org. ABOUT USA CYCLING Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 54,000 members and 2,000 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization professional men's road). USA Cycling is the license holder for the USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championships and USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championships. For more information visit www.usacycling.org, or contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867. ABOUT MEDALIST SPORTS Medalist Sports, LLC is a full-service international sports marketing company. Medalist Sports specializes in the planning, promotion and management of multi-day, multi-jurisdiction sports and special events. The Medalist Sports team has experience in all facets of the successful management and promotion of world-class sporting events in the United States, England, Australia and China. Clients and event experience include the Tour DuPont, Tour de Georgia, Amgen Tour of California, Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope, Tour of Missouri and the USA Cycling Professional Championships. Medalist Sports' headquarters are located south of metro Atlanta at P.O. Box 415, Tyrone, GA 30290. The company website is www.medalistsports.com.