Tour of Britain's future shrouded in uncertainty as the race organiser reportedly owes around £700,000 in license fees

The future of the UK’s biggest male cycle race, the Tour of Britain, is endangered over unpaid license fees. Cycling Weekly reports that British Cycling has withdrawn with immediate effect from a long-term deal with race promoter SweetSpot, stating the firm owes hundreds of thousands in licence fees.

A spokesperson for British Cycling told Cycling Weekly: "We can confirm that we have terminated our agreement with Sweetspot Group Limited to deliver the Tour of Britain."

The sports governing body has always held the rights to the Tour of Britain brand but licences it out to a race organiser. SweetSpot has held the licence for the race since it's return in 2004. A fresh agreement between the two parties was inked in 2019 and was due to expire in 2029.

It's understood that British Cycling contends that by the end of the year SweetSpot will owe around £700,000. The spokesperson added: "British Cycling remains fully committed to the delivery of the Tour of Britain in 2024, and will share further details in due course.”