2006 Tour de Georgia route announced

ATLANTA - As expected, next year's Tour de Georgia will bypass Gainesville.

The route for the race was announced a few days ago and, while it does not incude Gainesville, it does include four stops in our area: Cumming, Dahlonega, Blairsville and Brasstown Bald.

And, for the first time in the history of the race, it will swing outside the state as part of one leg - with Chattanooga pegged as the finish point for Stage Three, which will begin in Dalton.

This year's race will start in Augusta April 18 and end in Alpharetta April 23.