Lack of funds force cancelation of Tour Colombia - Race was added back to the UCI calendar but can't make its return

The Tour Colombia is a race that has delivered a lot in the past decade but over the past few years it hasn't been ran. In 2026 it was set to make a return, and was officially added to the UCI calendar. However the good news were short-lived, and it is now confirmed that the organizers lack the funds to make the event happen next February.

In an official statement, the race organization confirmed the end of the plan to hold the event in the 2026 season. The race was guarranteed a 2.1 status in the UCI calendar, as it previously had in the past, but could not guarrantee a sum of around 10 billion Colombian pesos - or €2.2 million euros - to ensure the event could go on as planned, with the right conditions and safety requirements for a race of this level. There will be an effort to maintain the sponsors that had ensured their support to potentially make a return in 2027 however.

There was also a concerted effort to inform of the costs of running such an event and where these funds were to be allocated. It would take 1.5 billion pesos for air transportation of all World Tour and ProTeams, alongside other teams for the race to be held; 2.5 for the accommodation and food for all the participant teams over the several days of racing; 610 million for transportation and operations on a logistical level for staff and teams; 252 for excess baggage fees for international teams; over 4 billion for general logistics, road safety and technical setup; 275 for the support personnel that would allow the event to be held safely, 540 million for the prize money, insurance, accreditations and other aspects that come down to the organizers; and more...

Ultimately the reality that is shown here is one that reflects on other UCI races, which often deliver on the spectacle and excitement on TV, but are always the fruit of months - or even years - of work to ensure that every single piece of the puzzle fits together.