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Armstrong To Race Tour of Georgia
ATLANTA, Ga. (January 23, 2004) – The road to France now goes through
Georgia. The United States Postal Service Professional Cycling Team®, which is presented by Berry Floor, has committed to enter a full squad in the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia, April 20 to 25. Leading the way for the USPS Pro Cycling team will be five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. "I am pleased to confirm that Lance will be part of the USPS Pro Cycling Team that will compete in the Dodge Tour de Georgia this year," said Bill Stapleton, principal at Capital Sports & Entertainment, the agency that represents Armstrong. "This is a great opportunity for him as he prepares for his attempt to win a historic sixth Tour de France. And he is pleased that the Tour directly supports the Georgia Cancer Coalition." The USPS Pro Cycling Team is a Division I Trade Team, as rated by the international governing body of cycling, the Union Cycliste International (UCI). It will be just one of 18 teams expected to compete in the country’s premier, professional cycling stage race. Other UCI Division I and II trade teams, and U.S. division I, II and III teams are currently under consideration, representing an elite field of the world’s best road cyclists. The Dodge Tour de Georgia is the highest ranked stage race in the U.S. by the USA Cycling (USAC). It is the only stage race of this length in the U.S. that is sanctioned by the UCI for 2004 that offers the coveted points that competitors need for year-end rankings. "Following a successful first year, we are pleased the Dodge Tour de Georgia has fit into our team’s racing schedule in 2004, a year that could be a historic one for both our team and the sport," said Johan Bruyneel, sports manager of the USPS cycling team. "Led by Lance, we will send a strong team to the race in the hopes of improving on our team’s fourth and fifth place overall finishes last year." A native of Austin, Texas, Armstrong first made headlines by winning the 1991 U.S. National Amateur Championship. He turned professional after the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and the following year won the World Road Race Championship. After winning his second Tour duPont stage race in the U.S. and competing in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment and recovery for the next five months. He returned to competitive cycling in 1998 and a year later won his first of five consecutive Tour de France races. USPS and Lance Armstrong Commit to Dodge Tour de Georgia "Dodge is very pleased to again lend its support to what is fast becoming one of North America's premiere sporting events," said Craig Fisher, director of marketing and product planning for Dodge. "By renewing our sponsorship, this affirms that the earned exposure, value and benefits already realized for our brand and products is once again assured, while joining the ongoing battle against cancer. Our support and justification is further confirmed by the addition of cycling’s premiere athlete, Lance Armstrong, to the roster of word-class competitors that will participate in the event." Dodge is the title sponsor of the 2004 Tour de Georgia. The U.S. Postal Service is one of many other sponsors supporting the race this year. For 2004 over 150 media representatives from around the world are expected to register for credentials, giving the Dodge Tour de Georgia a global audience and international prominence. Over 500,000 spectators are expected over the six days to watch the races and participate in activities in local communities across the state. "The Dodge Tour de Georgia promises to be even more exciting than last year. The addition of professional cycling’s premiere athlete will certainly promote and highlight Georgia as a tourist destination and generate a great deal of awareness for our message that the Tour is ‘Georgia’s race to defeat cancer’," said Stan Holm, executive director of the Dodge Tour de Georgia. "And the Tour is particularly pleased that we will provide a national platform in support of Lance’s mission to make the fight against cancer a priority. About the DODGE TOUR DE GEORGIA The Dodge Tour de Georgia is the largest multi-day stage race for professional cyclists in North America, and serves as a rolling festival to entertain and educate spectators across the state. It is sanctioned by the UCI and USAC as a premier event for elite athletes around the world. The Tour’s official beneficiary is the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC), raising funds and proactively promoting the objectives of cancer education, prevention, early detection and treatment. The Dodge Tour de Georgia is owned and operated by The Georgia Partnership for Economic Development (GPED) in association with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism (GDITT). Updates regarding the 2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia will be posted at the official website, www.tourdegeorgia.com. -- |
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