Next year’s Tour de Yorkshire is off, it was announced tonight (Tuesday).
“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with escalating financial challenges and uncertainties have led to an agreed position that the event would be unviable in 2022,” tourist body Welcome To Yorkshire said.
The annual Tour de Yorkshire (2015-2019) followed the success of the 2014 Tour de France’s Grand Départ in the county.
Last year, planning for the 2020 race was in the final stages with all the host towns and cities having detailed plans in place. However, due to the pandemic the race was postponed in late March 2020. Lockdown saw the 2021 race cancelled too.
Welcome To Yorkshire organises the event with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).
Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive James Mason said: “We had every intention for the race to go ahead but unfortunately some of the circumstances were out of our control and sometimes you have to make big calls for the right reasons.
“People from Yorkshire are proud and we only want the best for the county. We still have ambitions for large events going forward to put Yorkshire on the world stage and we will continue to work with our partners to plan for those.”
Chief executive of ASO Yann Le Moenner said: “After two back-to-back cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic hitting in early 2020, and considering economic factors, some of which result from it, it has been decided by mutual agreement that the Tour de Yorkshire will not be organised in 2022.
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“Whatever the case, the Tour de France and ASO will always remain close to Yorkshire because of the fantastic Grand Départ in 2014 and five successful editions of the Tour de Yorkshire which deserve a follow-up.”
British Cycling chief executive Brian Facer said:“We will continue to work with Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O. to secure major cycling events in the future.
“In the meantime, we know that Yorkshire remains passionate about cycling and we are working every day with our colleagues and partners to provide more opportunities for people from communities across the county to get on their bikes.”