It's been a tough year for sportive organisers and last week brought further unwelcome news as TweedLove announced it is shutting up shop after the 2024 season.
The trailblazing Scottish company has been running cycling events for 14 years, but owner Neil Dalgleish says the end has now come.
"It's with a heavy heart I have to announce that there will be no TweedLove events in 2025 or beyond," wrote Neil in a message to email subscribers.
"After several difficult years keeping everything afloat, these final races over the next couple of months will be our last."
"Over 14 years, we hosted literally hundreds of bike events, mostly for MTBs but also road, gravel, kids and more. At a conservative estimate, over 70,000 participants have signed up, got on their bikes and taken part in TweedLove events - that doesn't include all the free events, guided rides or all the people who came to spectate, support or just hang out at the festival," says Neil.
"We created Scotland's first-ever home-grown bike festival, produced the country's biggest enduro race series and ran the UK's biggest kids' cycling events. Alongside creating several full and part-time jobs, we also invented the Valley Crew - an awesome army of event volunteers with over 700 individuals registered."
The statement cites rising costs since Covid and a vast drop in sponsorship as the reasons behind the decision to close.
"Like so many bike event organisers, we face an unwelcome reality," continues Neil.
"Though TweedLove's entry numbers have largely bucked the trend of dwindling participation, it doesn't balance the negative elements. Costs have risen 30% since Covid, bike industry sponsorship is a fraction of what it used to be, and public sector support for events like ours is generally sporadic and minimal - despite the number of visitors we attract to this part of Scotland. The bottom line is we can't afford the salaries to attract or retain all the staff we need to do what we do."
All of TweedLove's remaing 2024 events will go ahead, with the exception of the 4th round of the TweedLove Enduro Series (Yair) on 4-5 October. Entry fees will be refunded.
The Glentress 7 (24 August), Hope Enjoyro EVO (25 August), Glentress Family Day (25 August) and TweedLove Enduro Series Round 3 (14-15 September) will go ahead as planned, with the 3rd round of the Enduro Series being TweedLove's final event.
However, the company's popular closed road sportive, Tour O The Borders, is still scheduled to take place on 7 September 2025.
For a more detailed statement on the factors behind the decision, visit the TweedLove website at tweedlove.com.
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