ATLANTA (AP) Cycling officials say if a major sponsor isn't found for the Tour de Georgia the race could be gone for good.

The 8-year-old tour was canceled in 2009 as the economy faltered. Officials announced last week it won't happen this year, either.

That puts the race one of the nation's top professional cycling events that brings $30 million annually into the state in danger of closing for good.

Tom Saddlemire, a board member for the Tour de Georgia Foundation Inc., said the event needs a sponsor willing to spend up to $1 million. The 600-mile race is usually held over six days in the spring.

Experts say the Georgia race is widely considered a warm-up event for the annual Tour de France, the World Series of cycling.

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