{"id":23069,"date":"2023-11-10T04:41:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T04:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/tour-of-britains-future-in-doubt-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-11-10T04:41:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T04:41:06","slug":"tour-of-britains-future-in-doubt-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/tour-of-britains-future-in-doubt-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour of Britain’s future in doubt | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nLONDON:
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The Tour of Britain’s future has been plunged into doubt after British Cycling cancelled its agreement with race organisers in a dispute over licence fees.<\/p>\n

Sweetspot held a 10-year agreement with the governing body to stage and promote the Tour of Britain.<\/p>\n

But it was reported on Tuesday that the company has fallen behind significantly on paying an agreed rights fee, with the debt said to reach \u00a3700,000 ($859,000) by the end of this year.<\/p>\n

“We can confirm that we have terminated our agreement with Sweetspot Group Limited to deliver the Tour of Britain,” a British Cycling statement said.<\/p>\n

“We would like to place on record our thanks to Sweetspot Group Limited for their work to deliver the race over the past 20 years.<\/p>\n

“British Cycling remains fully committed to the delivery of the Tour of Britain in 2024, and will share further details in due course.”<\/p>\n

The Women’s Tour and the domestic Tour Series, both of which are also organised by Sweetspot, were cancelled this year due to a lack of sponsorship and “economic challenges”, although both events are scheduled to return in 2024.<\/p>\n

But doubts over the Tour of Britain, which is critical in sponsorship terms to a number of domestic teams, will spark further questions over the state of domestic racing in the UK.<\/p>\n

Hugh Roberts, chief executive of Sweetspot, said: “Everything is in the hands of our lawyers who are dealing with each other. Whilst that is happening, we are going full-steam ahead with the Women’s Tour and we are making good progress.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n