Norway’s only UCI World Tour-race, the ”Ladies Tour of Norway”, scheduled for 13-16 August is postponed until August 2021.
The organizers have tried to run the race as scheduled, but the restrictions regard-ing the Covid -19-pandemic makes it impossible to organize the race this year. The region of Østfold is missing their biggest cycling festival this Summer.
– It is mainly the rules regarding social distancing with 1 meter and the restrictions regarding entering Norway for foreigners that makes it impossible for us, says race director Roy Moberg.
– We have tried everything and we have asked for advice from the government and the responsible people for the restrictions, but we have got no promisses that things will be different by mid-August.
The World Tour-race is one of Norway’s most international sport events with top riders from all over the world. Even though they are professional and this is their job, they have today no possibility to enter Norway for competing.
– We have looked at all possible scenarioes, even to organize without audience and with the necessary protections for Covid -19. But without riders we can not organize a World Tour-race. So it is with a heavy heart we have taken this decission, but we promise to come back strong with a new ”Ladies Tour of Norway” in August 2021 at the highest level, says Moberg.
The Organizing Committé have looked at the possibilities to have a substitute race for LToN, but there will be no race for the elite women this year.
– We would also miss the fiesta for all the people when we have no audience. This is of course important for the cities and the area, says Moberg about the race which has been live on Norwegian (and other countries) TV the last years.
The organizers will now start the planning for next years race. They also state that the work to establish the planned Nordic tour called ”Battle of the North” – or sometimes ”The Ladies Tour de France” – will continue. The plan was to start in 2021, but because of the Covid -19-pandemic it’s unsure today when it can happen.
Contact persons for further information:
Roy Moberg, race director: +47 906 49 339
Anders E. Linnestad, technical director:: +47 900 68 423
Kjell-Erik Kristiansen, chief of media:: +47 465 42 820
