The Tour de Yorkshire will not take place in 2022, organisers have confirmed.
Both the race and the sportive have been shelved as a result of ongoing disruption caused by the pandemic, with organisers saying it would not be viable to stage the race in 2022.
First held in 2015, the Tour de Yorkshire followed the spectacular success of the 2014 Tur de France Grand Départ in the county.
However, after five successful editions from 2015-2019 the three-day pro race - along with its popular Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive - has now been cancelled three years running, after the 2020 and 2021 editions fell victim to the pandemic.
This week, a statement by organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) announced a mutual decision to cancel the 2022 edition as well.
"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," reads a statement on the event website.
"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. Following discussions with A.S.O. and an assessment of the impact of lockdown and the likelihood of being able to hold the race, the 2021 race was also postponed.
"During this subsequent period Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O. have continued to discuss bringing the race back to Yorkshire as soon as it was to be deemed safe and viable to do so."
Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive James Mason added: "This has been an intense period of back and forth discussions about the 2022 Tour de Yorkshire over many months. The race is a much-loved international sports event which showcases Yorkshire across the globe.
"So many people involved in the decision making process understand just how popular the race is. 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."
The full statement can be found on the Tour de Yorkshire website.
Sportive vouchers for Tour de Yorkshire Ride entrants
Where does the cancellation leave cyclists who entered the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire Ride?
Events company Human Race, who organise the sportive, last year offered all entrants vouchers to transfer their entry to another of the company's sportives.
At present that includes the iconic Dragon Ride sportive in Wales, and L'Etape UK - the UK edition of the L'Etape du Tour series.
L'Etape UK has itself been cancelled this year, while the Dragon Ride is set to go ahead on 26 September 2021 having been postponed from its usual June date.
If you're still holding a voucher, they are valid for Human Race events until 31 December 2022 although this may be extended given the latest cancellation.
With the future of the Tour de Yorkshire looking uncertain, switching to the Dragon Ride is a great alternative. It's one of the best sportives in the UK, but among the toughest too.
Find out more at www.dragonride.co.uk.
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