Financial problems: Tour of Thuringia canceled

The women's Tour of Thuringia will not take place this year. Tour director Vera Hohlfeld and race director Marian Koppe announced that the 37th edition cannot be held due to financial problems. Cancellation was already on the cards after it was announced last week that subsidies from the state of Thuringia amounting to 200,000 euros could no longer be provided.

So far, there has only been one rejection of the state's financial contribution. "We appreciate the various offers from the Thuringian State Chancellery in recent days, which indicate an effort to find a solution to the problem," the statement said. However, they do not see any possibility of raising the difference for a successful Ladies Tour "that meets our requirements and those of the UCI".

Further details in the coming week

The uncertain financial situation had become an existential problem by the end of February at the latest, with numerous events being put on hold. "It is no longer possible to complete the work in the three months until the start of the tour and the financial risk of getting further work underway is not sustainable," said Hohlfeld and Koppe.

The company plans to provide more details in the coming week. According to Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU), the reduced funding from the state had become necessary due to the tight budget situation. Hohlfeld then wrote to sponsors and partners and asked for additional support.

The 37th Ladies Tour, planned from June 17 to 22, has a firm place in the women's cycling calendar. The tour, which has been held since 1986, has only been canceled during the fall of communism in 1990, 1991 and during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.