Tour de Georgia picking up speed
Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Jim Lovel Staff Writer
The state government's plans to start an annual world-class bicycle race shift into high gear this month.
The Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism is scheduled June 29 to award a contract, potentially worth up to $10 million, to a company that will help the state coordinate and conduct the event. The department was scheduled to open bids for the contract June 14.
Billed as the Tour de Georgia, the first road race could be held as early as next year, according to specifications the department issued in May. State officials want the race to promote tourism in the state, stimulate economic development and promote cycling.
"It is the intent of the state of Georgia that this event ... will grow into the premiere professional cycling event in the United States," documents state.
The state wants to hire a company with experience at organizing large events to handle all the details of the race, including finding a corporate sponsor, determining the route of the course and promoting the event. Ideally, the company will be willing to provide its services for at least four annual races, according to documents. The GDITT plans to contribute $100,000 as a "major sponsor" of the event.
Officials at the department couldn't be reached for comment, but Robert Morris, the department's spokesperson, said there has been a lot of interest in the event.
"It looks like a viable project," Morris said. "We are talking about the top racers in the world."
Peter Penny, a contracting officer with the state Department of Administrative Services who is handling the bids for the state, said he hadn't received any bids by June 12. However, contractors often don't submit their bids for state contracts until hours before the scheduled opening of the bids, he said.
Penny said he expects the contract to be awarded to a single contractor who will use subcontractors to provide all the needed services for the event.
The Tour de Georgia will be a lengthy road race similar to, but not as large as, the world's most famous bicycle race, the Tour de France, an annual 21-day event that covers about 2,500 miles and attracts 180 of the world's best racers.
Staging such an event is a difficult task, said John Bevilaqua, president of Creative Marketing Strategy of Atlanta. Bevilaqua has been involved in the planning of eight Olympic Games and an adviser to corporate sponsors of sporting events. He also has been an avid cyclist for the past 17 years.
"You can't get the top riders without top prize money," Bevilaqua said.
Lance Armstrong, the American racer who won the Tour de France in 1999 and 2000, earned about $7 million last year from prize money, promotions and speaking engagements. Armstrong currently gets $100,000 for a single speaking engagement.
The state plans to find corporate sponsors to finance the race, which will be free to the public.
As the nation's economy has cooled, large corporations are becoming more reluctant to enlist in new sponsorships, Bevilaqua said.
Local cycling enthusiasts are excited about the possibilities.
Bill Denny, president of the Southern Bicycle League, said he reviewed the specifications for the race and discussed it with members of his club, which represents about 1,100 cyclists in Georgia, mostly in metro Atlanta.
"There is some interest in our club," Denny said. "Any event that brings attention to cycling would help the cycling community."
Atlanta has hosted world-class bicycle racing in the past. In 1992, the first annual First Union Grand Prix was held on a 7-mile loop through Midtown and Piedmont Park. The annual event ended in 1998 after a dispute with the city over the dates of the race and loss of its primary sponsor.
Reach Lovel at jlovel@bizjournals.com
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