The sixth annual Tour de Georgia apparently won’t cycle through Walker County.

The bicycling event will take place April 21-27 and will be under new leadership.

The list of cities that the Tour will visit will be officially announced on the event’s website at www.tourdegeorgia.com on Wednesday at 9 p.m.

Walker County Chamber of Commerce president Stacy Mauer on Monday said, “I have not heard anything. They change it around every year.”

Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper on Monday said, “I have heard rumors that they are not coming back through here again this year.”

The event is owned by the non-profit Georgia Partnership for Economic Development (GPED) and will now be governed by a reconstituted board of directors, with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle serving as chairman.

Medalist Sports will continue as the logistics and operations management company for the event, which is led by Chris Aronhalt and Jim Birrell.

Elizabeth Dewberry, who worked with Cagle for the past five years, will be named the executive director of the Tour de Georgia and manage the marketing, business operations and strategic partnerships.

According to the Tour de Georgia’s website, the current GPED board is taking action to ratify these changes.

On the Tour de Georgia’s website, Lt. Gov. Cagle said, “The Tour de Georgia is an internationally known sporting event. It is the largest cycling race in the U.S. occurring just before the Tour de France. The Tour represents an excellent opportunity to bring the world to our state-and that is what we intend to do. Through aggressive marketing and strategic partnerships, we will add this event to the ranks of historic Georgia sporting events like The Masters and the Peachtree Road Race.”

“This cities we will select this year will exemplify all the special qualities and Southern hospitality that make Georgia the greatest state in America. The race and activities focused around it in every community will encourage others to visit our state again and again-having a strong impact on our state’s tourism development and overall economy,” Lt. Gov. Cagle said.

According to the Tour de Georgia’s website, the event has enjoyed great success, attracting 2.8 million spectators to the communities across the state of Georgia, and generating $148 million in economic impact since 2003.

In 2007, the Tour expanded from six to seven days, allowing more communities to take part in the festivities and gained $27 million in direct economic impact for that year.

The Tour de Georgia is considered a traditional “Tour de France tune-up” and is also part of the USA Cycling Professional Tour.

The event has garnished international acclaim for the strong field of cyclists.

According to the Tour’s website, in 2006 the Tour faced some financial challenges that were resolved weeks before the race began.

The route for the event is expected to cover more than 650 miles of scenic roadways and communities across Georgia.

Lt. Gov. Cagle and Media Sports will announce the official route and host venues on Dec. 5.

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