2009 Tour de Leelanau canceled

Cycling magazine Velo News reports:

“Current economic realities” have caused Michigan-based health insurance company Priority Health to pull its sponsorship of three major midwestern races, and at least one of the events has canceled its 2009 edition.

Tour de Leelanau race director Steven Brown informed the Union Cyclist Internationale (UCI) on Friday that it was canceling the UCI category 1.2 event, which had been scheduled for May 24.

They quote USA Cycling’s local administrator for Michigan, Joe Lekovish, as saying that while the pro circuit seems to be suffering in Michigan, the state’s amateur road racing calendar is shaping up to be the best in 20 years.

Whatever the statewide calendar looks like, I for one am sad to see the Tour de Leelanau go. Hopefully it can return in future years!

Tour de Leelanau photo by John Clement Howe