Armstrong returning to Georgia race

Lance Armstrong is stopping by Georgia again on his way to France.

• Photos

Switching gears from his original plans, Armstrong announced Wednesday he will race in April's Tour de Georgia - a major step in his pursuit of a seventh straight victory in the Tour de France.

Armstrong won the Tour de Georgia a year ago, helping lure crowds that were estimated at nearly 750,000. Naturally, race officials were ecstatic that he'll be back to defend his title.

"When we started this event, we wanted to grow it in five years to be North America's premier event," executive director Stan Holm said. "When Lance came in Year 2, that validated we had already arrived as North America's premier event. For him to come back and defend the title drives the final nail in the coffin. We're thrilled."

Armstrong initially planned to spend April competing in one-day races in Belgium and the Netherlands. Instead, he entered the Georgia event, which begins April 19 in Augusta and culminates five days later in suburban Atlanta.

Holm said he wasn't surprised by Armstrong's change of heart, especially since the race benefits the Georgia Cancer Coalition.

Armstrong is a cancer survivor.

"Last year, Lance told me personally that he thought it was a first-rate event that was as good or better than racing in Europe," Holm said. "In terms of his training and his regime, this event was a perfect fit."

This year's race will cover 646 miles over six days. There's a time trial through hilly Rome, along with a mountaintop finish at Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia.

Armstrong was impressed with the layout of the course and the large crowds that turned out last year, according to Holm.

"Quite frankly, he was thrilled with the landscape, the communities and the turnout," Holm said. "Even though he was saying his personal goals were in Europe, sort of in the back of my mind I knew this was a favorite event of his. I didn't take much from his (original) calendar until he made a final decision on the Tour de France. That was the key."

Cycling has never been much more than a niche sport in the United States, but Armstrong raised its popularity with his inspiring comeback from testicular cancer, his record six victories in the Tour de France and his high-profile relationship with singer Sheryl Crow.

With Armstrong setting the pace, the Tour de Georgia should be able to maintain its popularity from a year ago.

"He was just at the Grammys, for crying out loud," Holm said. "What Lance brings to our event is a whole bunch of folks who otherwise wouldn't come. But once they see the event one time, they become fans. That's the Lance factor, as far as I'm concerned."