Just year after a grand return to UCI calendar, the Tour Colombia could be cancelled in 2025!

The Tour Colombia is today possibly the most prestigious cycling race in Latin America. It was held for the first time in 2018, had a hiatus due to COVID-19 and returned in 2024. In four editions, it has had the presence of riders of the stature of Egan Bernal, Miguel Ángel López, Richard Carapaz, Mark Cavendish, Julian Alaphilippe or Fernando Gaviria. In other words, the most important national cyclists and several top-level foreigners.

However, there are rumors that the race could disappear from the calendar soon if it does not improve financially. The budget for 2025 suddenly dropped from €300,000 to €100,000 compared to this year. The major funder of the race is the Colombian Ministry of Sport, but according to the newspaper El Tiempo, they have decided to considerably reduce their commitment to this competition. This is why there is a possibility that the fifth edition will be cancelled, if they do not obtain the necessary resources.

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"Losing the opportunity to organize a race of this caliber in the country is terrible news," said Luis Cely, coach of the GW Erco Shimano team. "It's a competition with great teams and high-level cyclists. Without the Tour Colombia, Colombians can no longer compete with them. Riders who don't have the possibility of going to Europe can only measure themselves against the best in the world in the Tour Colombia. For us, as a brand and a team, it is very important to have this race."

Raúl Mesa, coach of the NU Colombia team, warns that the cancellation of the next Tour Colombia could be very detrimental for the young riders. "We must work precisely to organize races for U23 cyclists, and the Tour Colombia is an excellent option. You compete in your own country against great riders. This gives young people the opportunity to fight and learn what it means to participate in a competition like this. If it doesn't happen, it affects us enormously. The Tour Colombia is fundamental for brands like ours and for many sponsors, because participating in a high-level race means visibility. The competition is an incentive for companies to invest."

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