The end for Velothon Wales? Organisers announce "no plans to continue in 2019 and beyond"

The organisers of Velothon Wales have announced that the event will not take place in 2019, nor are there plans for any future editions.

Our publisher Joe took part in the first edition of Velothon Wales in 2015.

The closed road sportive was hugely popular, bringing 40,000 cyclists to Cardiff and the surrounding countryside over four editions from 2015-2018.

However, it seems this year's Velothon - in which 8,000 cyclists took part - was the last. The organisers' statement today says that, following "discussions between the Velothon series owners IRONMAN, the Welsh Government Major Events Unit and local event delivery partners Run4Wales ... we are unable to find a sustainable model for future events".

Velothon's other events in Berlin, Hamburg and Australia's sunshine coast will however go ahead. It's a move that will disappoint many cyclists, and is likely to prompt questions such as why can't Cardiff - home town of the reigning Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas, no less - find a way to sustain a cycling event of this nature?

The organisers' statement in full:

Following detailed discussions between the Velothon series owners IRONMAN, the Welsh Government Major Events Unit and local event delivery partners Run4Wales, we can now confirm there are no plans for Velothon Wales to continue in 2019 and beyond.

Despite a successful event in 2018, in which more than 8,000 riders took part across three distances, it is unfortunate that we are unable to find a sustainable model for future events.

The event showcased Wales at its best and welcomed UCI professional road racing alongside 40,000 amateur riders, who were given a truly unforgettable experience on closed roads between 2015 and 2018.

We would like to thank the people of Wales, each and every person who took part and the numerous stakeholder and partner agencies who made the event possible. As well as inspiring the next generation of Welsh cyclists, the VELOTHON leaves a legacy that confirms Wales' position as a cycling destination and host for major global cycling events.

In 2019, cyclists can look forward to VELOTHON events in Berlin, Hamburg and on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. You can keep up to date with new events in the Velothon series at www.velothon.com.