2009 Tour de New York Cancelled

ROCHESTER - Due to the extremely challenging economic times, sufficient support could not be secured for the inaugural UCI 2009 Tour de New York.

Tour de New York Executive Director, Scott Page, said that despite enormous support, unprecedented financial commitment and diligent endorsements from Rochester's Mayor Robert Duffy and the City of Rochester, the financial resources to produce the world-class event could not be realized for this year. Plans are already underway to solidify the 2010 Tour de New York.

The six-day international professional stage race was scheduled to showcase the beautiful Western and Finger Lakes Regions of Upstate New York from August 8th through August 13th. Top professional race teams from around the world expressed intense interest and Universal Sports (a division of NBC) committed to six days of prime-time television coverage of the event.

Built from the success of the Saturn Rochester Twilight Criterium, which began in 2004, the event has grown exponentially each year. Last year's international three-day Rochester Omnium, which included Olympic, World and National Champions, was designed specifically as a platform to introduce the Tour de New York.

Scott Page also said, "The event is being postponed until 2010 so that proper support can be secured. Mayor Duffy and the City of Rochester are already assisting in the process to ensure this unique professional spectacle can return to the streets of Rochester and the roads of New York State. With an estimated $30 million in economic impact, the commitment of television coverage and top-level professional teams attending, the city realizes the financial potential and the community benefits of a free event for the public."