The thirty seventh version of the long-running LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour won’t happen in 2025 after key state funding was eliminated, leaving the organisers with a reported shortfall of €200,000.
The information that the area of Thuringia had withdrawn public funding for the race broke final week by way of Sport im Osten, and on Monday the race organisers confirmed that the race won’t go forward this June. It is unclear whether or not it could return in 2026.
“We remorse to tell you that the thirty seventh version of the LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour won’t happen in 2025,” an announcement from the organisers learn.
“So far, we’ve solely acquired a written refusal from the Free State of Thuringia relating to monetary participation within the LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour. We admire the varied gives from the Thuringian State Chancellery in current days, which point out an effort to discover a resolution to the issue.
“However, we see no option to compensate for the distinction in the price of a profitable and protected LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour that meets our and the UCI’s necessities.”
The race is just a 2.Pro race, not Women’s WorldTour, however is six days lengthy and nonetheless prices a whole bunch of hundreds of euros to placed on, with a big chunk of that coming by way of state funding.
Race director Vera Hohlfeld informed Sport im Osten that the funds had been deliberate final 12 months, however it grew to become obvious that they might not be acquired earlier this 12 months, main the organisers to pause and now in the end halt continuing with organising the race.
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“Due to the unsure monetary scenario, which grew to become an existential drawback by mid-/late February of this 12 months on the newest, we needed to postpone many vital organizational and press appointments with cities, municipalities, and sponsors,” their assertion continued.
“The evaluation is now not possible within the three months main as much as the beginning of the tour, and the monetary threat of initiating additional work is unacceptable.”
Among vocal help from followers and riders, a petition was arrange final week to attempt to put stress on the native area to avoid wasting the race, gaining over 1,200 signatures by Monday afternoon. Race organisers Vera Hohlfeld and Marian Koppe touched on the help acquired of their assertion.
“At this level, we want to emphasize as soon as once more that this resolution was not a straightforward one. In current days, we’ve acquired an excessive amount of encouragement and gives of help for holding the tour, all of which we’ve rigorously thought-about, making it all of the harder for us to take this drastic step.
“We ask to your understanding that we can’t remark additional on the precise circumstances right now, however we should first course of this tough and tough resolution ourselves, because the LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour has been not solely a biking occasion but additionally an vital a part of our lives over the previous few years.”
The Thüringen Ladies Tour is the longest-running skilled race on the calendar, having first taken place in 1986. Since then, it has grow to be a staple on the calendar, with many prime groups racing in Germany regardless of its non-WorldTour standing.
In current years, total winners have included Lucinda Brand, Lotte Kopecky and Ruth Edwards, who took the title in 2024.
Only one earlier version has ever been cancelled, which was in 2020 through the pandemic.
Following the cancellation announcement, the race organisers made no touch upon whether or not the race would possibly return in 2026 – given extra time to fill the money stream hole – however stated they would supply extra element quickly.
“We will evaluation every thing this week and problem an in depth assertion concerning the precise background subsequent week.”