Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford 2018 Cancelled - FYI

Folks I came across this article today - sad news!
The Future of the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford

The organisers of The Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford have completed a review of the event in recent months. This included consideration of the changed environment for events of this nature, as well as exploring possible new opportunities for cycling and outdoor recreation in Waterford. With this in mind, the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford will not be taking place this year.

While this event will no longer be happening, this now gives us an opportunity to plan for other initiatives which will continue to support and promote cycling in Waterford. This will include a Family Fun Cycling event organised by Waterford Sports Partnership as part of Bike Week 2018 and a Greenway Cycling event with a difference organised by Waterford City and County Council. We will also continue to work with the local cycling community to develop cycling opportunities and initiatives.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who supported The Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford over the last eleven years including our organising committee, partner agencies, sponsors, community groups/clubs, volunteers and the many cyclists who took part.

A sincere thank you to all.

That is sad news :(

This included consideration of the changed environment for events of this nature

Wonder what exactly they meant by this?

Locals giving out about it would be my guess!

Likely the lack of Sponsorship, with An Post not renewing it's sponsorship of cycling. Which in the current climate of closing local Post Offices in the pivot of their business model towards online shopping parcel deliveries, is correct.

Other cancelled events (Tour of the North, Seven Springs GP) have sited the lack of volunteers as contributing reasons (Gee, I wonder who highlighted this at our own AGM ...some sort of bitter recluse Ginger Genius probably :D ).

I've not been to the SKT. There's still no reason why we can't go down that weekend, or any other, and make a Weekend Away Event out of it. Revise the route if needed, to incorporate a food stop.

There's still local businesses that would like the benefit to the local economy. Which will in-turn create a positive reinforcement loop of sentiment to cyclists.

Anyone who wants to ride the route now has an extra €50 in their Lezine/Bellboy/Rapha waterproof wallet.