The Tour de Georgia is still hunting a title sponsor for 2008, but with five new host cities, a team time trial on Braselton’s Road Atlanta motorsports track and the enthusiastic backing of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, race director Jim Birrell was optimistic on Wednesday as organizers announced the route for next year’s race.

The 2008 race will include five new host cities and feature a team time trial on Braselton’s Road Atlanta speedway.

“We’re in a much better situation than we were last year,” said Birrell of Medalist Sports during a press conference at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. “There’s so much more stability in the future of this event. And the success of the last five years has really cemented the lieutenant governor’s passion and support for making this thing bigger and better than it has been in the past.”

Cagel said the state and race organizers were “taking the steps necessary to continue strengthening the Tour de Georgia, ensuring it remains North America's premier cycling race.”

“As we entered into this sixth season of the Tour de Georgia, we promised to revitalize the event, and we are well on our way,” he added.

Medalist still hopes to fill the title-sponsor slot before the race begins, but state dollars and the eagerness of the participating communities are the first stepping stones to the race’s becoming solvent going forward. The AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service at Children’s Healthcare will be the tour’s principal beneficiary.

“The state is back in and we’ll work closely with all of the communities as well as our sponsors to raise funds to go back to Children’s Healthcare,” said Birrell.

Frischkorn and Grajales are looking forward to Georgia '08

Photo: JoE Silva

The 2008 Tour de Georgia will begin with what should be a picturesque stage from Tybee Island into nearby Savannah, which hosted the kickoff of the 2003 race. Other newcomers to the tour for '08 include the small college town of Statesboro, Washington, Suwanee/Gwinnett County and Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, where the team time trial will be held on 2.54 miles of asphalt normally reserved for auto racing.

The distance has yet to be settled, but it’s a new twist to the race that Team Slipstream’s Will Frishkorn, who was on hand for the announcement, was excited to hear about.

“They couldn’t have done anything better for the Slipstream program. We’ve got a lot of time trialists featured on the team and it’s something that a lot of people haven’t seen,” he said. “So it should add an interesting dynamic to the race that should change things up a bit.”

Also on hand was former Jittery Joe’s rider Cesar Grajales, the man who beat Lance Armstrong up the epic climb of Brasstown Bald during the 2004 race. The Colombian climber was hampered by injuries during the 2007 tour, despite serious efforts by his teammates to neutralize this year’s Brasstown stage winner, Levi Leipheimer.

“I’ve been training now and not pushing it. Just doing some base miles and feeling good.” said Grajales, who will be riding for Rock Racing next season, alongside friends Santiago Botero and Victor Hugo Peña. “I think with the team TT, I’ll have more possibilities to be higher up in the overall GC. I think the whole situation is going to be to my benefit.”

Reigning champion Janez Brajkovic, who won the 2007 edition while riding for the now-disbanded Discovery Channel team, also hopes to return in 2008 with his new Astana squad.

“Being the best young rider in 2006 was great, but winning the whole race in 2007 was the highlight of my racing career. I am always asking my directors to do more races in the U.S. and I plan to be back again in April,” Brajkovic said.

Up against Brajkovic, Grajales and Frishkorn will probably be a familiar mix of U.S. teams and ProTour outfits. Birrell hopes to have the official roster settled fairly soon.

“I would envision that we would be announcing the Tour de Georgia teams before the gun starts the Tour of California,” he said.

The 2008 Tour De Georgia
Stage 1: Monday, April 21 – Tybee Island to Savannah
Stage 2: Tuesday, April 22 – Statesboro to Augusta
Stage 3: Wednesday, April 23 – Washington to Gainesville
Stage 4: Thursday, April 24 – Road Atlanta/Braselton (team time trial)
Stage 5: Friday, April 25 – Suwanee/Gwinnett Co. to Dahlonega
Stage 6: Saturday, April 26 – Blairsville/Union Co. to Brasstown Bald Mtn/Towns County
Stage 7: Sunday, April 27 – Atlanta (circuit race)