The ambassadors seem to have disappeared: Tour of Colombia officially canceled for 2025

"The Colombian Cycling Federation informs the public that the Tour Colombia will not be held in 2025. This decision is a reaction to economic struggles, strategic priorities for sports development in the regions, and the need to strengthen the base of Colombian cycling," were the first words of the statement made by the federation.

The money needed for the tour is made available, but the organization is intentionally skipping a year. ''We will focus these funds allocated for next year on promoting cycling and strengthening the national and international competition calendar to promote the development of new talents further and encourage the sport's growth in all areas. We want to work to establish Colombia as the best possible competitor in cycling and invest in the riders of the future."

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So, the cancellation of the next edition of the Tour of Colombia coincides with the realization that Colombian cycling is not faring well at all. And there is something to be said for that. Icoon Rigoberto Urán has retired; he may have been reason enough to keep the race going. But also Esteban Chaves, once on the podium twice in one year, and Fernando Gaviria, good for many Giro and Tour stages, are just a shadow of the toppers they once were.

In addition, Nairo Quintana is getting older. After his Tramadol affair, he is no longer on top of his game, and there is another great talent, Carlos Betancur, who retired in 2021. Things went most unfavorably with Miguel Angel Lopez. Superman was a top climber for years but declined completely after many doping problems. The list of top climbers was huge, but the league has now concluded. The ambassadors are disappearing, and a crisis has been declared in Colombian cycling. It is a shame because the Tour of Colombia always attracted many top competitors and produced scenic racing.