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Having completed the fifth edition of the Tour de Georgia one month ago, the impact of America’s premier, professional cycling event and rolling festival continues to be positive on several levels. Over half a million spectators (515,000) watched the Tour de Georgia from April 16 to 22 along its 667-mile route. And for the fourth consecutive year, detailed crowd intercept survey reports have found that the economic impact has surpassed $26 million for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2007 Tour de Georgia generated a direct economic impact of $27.56 million into the economy. As a destination to showcase the diverse tourism assets for the state of Georgia, the Tour has proven that it is indeed a sports property that is more than a bicycle race. In just five years since its inception, the Tour de Georgia has produced big numbers – 2.8 million spectators and $148 million direct economic impact to the state of Georgia.

In addition, the Tour shines a spotlight on its host state and 12 Host Venues that generates a positive indirect impact throughout the year. More than 50 million people worldwide viewed the Tour de Georgia through international video news feeds and telecasts, plus historic record on-line views through daily streamed feeds of live race action. Over 400 credentialed media covered the race throughout the seven days and contributed to the Tour’s overall 639 million media impressions generated worldwide.

“The Tour de Georgia helps keep Georgia on the world stage,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the agency that serves as a marketing arm for the state and presenting sponsor of the Tour de Georgia. “It’s a signature event for our state with well-documented economic impact that filters from the communities it touches throughout the state. We commend Medalist Sports and AT&T, United Community Bank, Cox Enterprises, GE Energy and all our fellow sponsors who stepped up to support the Tour.” GDEcD has been the presenting sponsor for the Tour since its inception in 2003.

The direct economic impact outcome of $27.56 million reflects a 5% increase over 2006 ($26.2 million). The number was derived from over 1,700 intercept surveys that were completed by individuals over the seven-day event. These individuals specifically stated that they were at a Host Venue to see the Tour and were from out of state. Analysis of the data was conducted by Input Technologies and North Georgia College and State University.

“We are proud that in five years we have been able to continue the momentum as a top-rated, international sporting event, as a significant annual event that drives tourism dollars into the local economies, and also as a vehicle to promote awareness and funding for cancer research with the Georgia Cancer Coalition. It is a true success story of a public-private partnership,” said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of Medalist Sports, the sports agency licensed to operate the Tour, who has been involved with the event since its start in 2003.

Dry weather and a highly competitive professional field of athletes, including five teams who have competed in the Tour de France, accounted for driving Tour attendance over the half million mark for the fourth consecutive year. There were over 80,000 people along the final circuit course in downtown Atlanta on Sunday, April 22 and an estimated 40,000 spectators leading into the signature Brasstown Bald Mountain climb.

“The crowd was remarkable all week. Events like this have a profound impact on young minds. I know from my own conversations and experiences that there will be a young American standing on an international podium somewhere in six or seven years who saw this event and got interested in this sport as a result of seeing it (here in Georgia),” said Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling.

The Tour de Georgia focuses each season on being a sports property that is more than a bike race. The positive economic impact is also complemented by positive publicity and fundraising generated for the official beneficiary, the Georgia Cancer Coalition. The 2007 Tour de Georgia reached its highest level in five years fundraising dollars for The Coalition, with donations pledges totaling over $80,000.

“As a partner with the Tour de Georgia for a fifth consecutive year, we are very pleased to see that the event continues to strengthen in many areas. This year we saw a 60% increase in fundraising from just the year before. Both the BriarRose Grand Peloton and the Live Healthy Georgia Expo remain the centerpieces for us to engage visitors from across the state and make a positive impact in funding cancer research. It's a very rewarding partnership,” said Bill Todd, president and CEO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.

The majority of the donations were generated by the second annual BriarRose Grand Peloton, a recreational bicycle ride that attracted over 100 participants. New fundraising activities for 2007 included a juke box raffle from Waffle House, a Lexus of South Atlanta vehicle raffle in Peachtree City and a recreational bicycle event hosted by Jittery Joe’s in Buford, Ga.

The Tour de Georgia gained international stature in 2004 when Tour de France champion and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong won the event. In 2005 the Tour de Georgia was elevated to a 2. Hors Classe (2.HC) road cycling competition by the world’s governing body of the sport, the Union Cycliste International (UCI). This made the Tour de Georgia one of the highest rated stage races outside of Europe, and gained the distinction as a tune-up event for the world’s best cyclists who planned to compete in the Tour de France in July. And this year, at 667-miles of racing, the Tour de Georgia became the longest professional stage race in North America. The 2007 Tour was won by 23-year-old rising star Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia) of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team.