British Cycling has terminated its agreement with the Tour of Britain race promotor, SweetSpot, in a move which threatens the future of the men’s multi-stage cycling race.
According to The Guardian, the contract termination follows a financial dispute over unpaid rights, with the British cycling governing body claiming SweetSpot owes £700,000 in unpaid instalments, dating back to 2022.
The news leaves the Tour of Britain with no promotor and risks being removed from the 2024 programmes of the world’s leading riders and teams.
British Cycling holds the rights to the Tour of Britain brand but licences it out to a race organiser, with SweetSpot in possession of that licence since the inaugural race in 2004.
SweetSpot successfully renewed in 2019, securing a 10-year contract until 2029.
The dispute is now being overtaken by lawyers, although no litigation has been actioned at this stage.
“We have to resolve our differences.”
SweetSpot Director, Hugh Roberts
Publicly, both British Cycling and SweetSpot have suggested there is still a chance of resolution.
A spokesperson for British Cycling told Cycling Weekly, “We can confirm that we have terminated our agreement with SweetSpot Group Limited to deliver the Tour of Britain. British Cycling remains fully committed to the delivery of the Tour of Britain in 2024, and will share further details in due course.”
Meanwhile, SweetSpot Director, Hugh Roberts, told The Guardian, “I am optimistic that the issues with British Cycling can be overcome. We have to resolve our differences.”
The latest issues follow long-running struggles for both the men’s and women’s Tour of Britain. The men’s race had already failed to secure a headline sponsor for the 2024 event, and the women’s race was cancelled in 2023 by SweetSpot due to ‘increased running costs and a reduced level of commercial support.’
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