The future of the UK’s premier cycle race, the Tour of Britain, has been plunged into doubt over an alleged unpaid race licence fee.
Cycling Weekly has learned that British Cycling has withdrawn “with immediate effect” from a long-term deal with race promoter SweetSpot, alleging the firm owes hundreds of thousands in licence fees.
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."
The sports governing body has always held the rights to the Tour of Britain brand but licences it out to a race organiser. SweetSpot has held the licence since the modern race’s inception in 2004.
A fresh agreement between the two parties was inked in 2019 and was due to expire in 2029.
It's understood that BC contends that by the end of the year SweetSpot will owe around £700,000.
SweetSpot declined to comment on the amount involved.
