New and different are good things, say organizers of the Tour de Georgia, and both were topics Wednesday at Road Atlanta near Braselton.

New is the inclusion of a China-based racing team, a first for the 6-year-old cycling race across the state. Different is using an auto racetrack for one of the race's seven stages, also a Tour first.

Kimberly Smith/AJC (ENLARGE)

Athens-based Jittery Joe's cycling team tests out the track at Road Atlanta in Braselton. The facility will participate as a host venue for a day of team time trials as one of the stages for the 2008 Tour de Georgiat. The cycling teams will complete four laps on the 2.54-mile long road course, racing against the clock.

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Race promoters covered both topics during a press conference held at Road Atlanta's media center.

Tour event director Chris Aronhalt announced that Beijing-based GE Marco Polo Cycling Team is one of the 15 professional teams expected to compete in the seven-stage, 589-mile race April 21-27.

"This is very significant for us," said Aronhalt, adding that Chinese television network CCTV has already committed to cover the race. Last year, webcasts of the race reached 77 countries. "There's definitely a push to make [cycling] more of a global sport."

The GE Marco Polo team, led by 2008 Olympic hopeful Fuyu Li, will be the first Chinese cycling team to compete on American soil when it hits Georgia.

"Our goal is to help Chinese cycling gain additional professional experience and exposure at the international level, develop new cycling heroes like Fuyu Li and cultivate closer ties with other countries, a mission that can begin this spring in Georgia,"said team director Gudo Kramer in a press release from sponsor General Electric.

More details were released about the Stage 4 team time trial, scheduled April 24 at Road Atlanta. Eight riders from each team will ride together for four laps around the 2.54-mile road course that is more apt to see racing cars and motorcycles on the pavement. "It's a different kind of horsepower," said Road Atlanta president Geoff Lee.

Members of the Athens-based Jittery Joe's cycling team braved gusty winds and rain for its first training run around the course Wednesday afternoon.

Stage 4 is the first team trial in Tour history. "This is such a spectator sport and this is such a spectator-friendly venue," Aronhalt said. "It's going to be a sight to see,"