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Plans for the Tour of Ireland 2010 have been abandoned following the troubled economic climate and a lack of investment, according to the event organiser.
The five-day race was set to take place from August 18th to 22nd this year and while significant commercial and public sector funding had been secured, the additional investment required to run the event was not obtained.
Tour of Ireland Cycling Events’ Alan Rushton said: "We fully intend to bring it back for 2011 when the private sector environment is stronger."
The race was revived in 2007 after a seventeen year absence.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Irish champion Nicolas Roche said: "It’s a real pity, as it had just made it’s comeback after all those years.
"It just shows how difficult it is to organise a race of that nature nowadays. Hopefully, it’s only a temporary setback."
Russell Downing won last year’s Tour, while Lance Armstrong and Mark Cavendish retired before the finish.
