The ongoing uncertainty around Australia’s COVID-19 situation, including border closures and quarantine restrictions, have forced organisers of the nations most traditional cycling stage race to postpone the event until 2023.

Despite best efforts, both the Jayco Herald Sun Tour and Women’s Herald Sun Tour will unfortunately not get to the start line next February.

This is the second year the popular showcase events have been shelved, with the executive making the call in favour of health and safety requirements and amidst the difficulty of ensuring high calibre international teams could continue to participate.

Jayco Herald Sun Tour Chairman Tom Salom said the decision was made after much consideration.

“We are proud of our history as the country’s oldest cycling stage race, however the unpredictability that COVID-19 brings to our event presents too many challenges for us to proceed next year.  In particular, the quarantine restrictions that come with Covid made it very difficult to attract the best international riders.”

“We have not taken this decision lightly, and our team will continue to examine all possibilities in a bid to resume racing in 2023.”

Mr Salom said organisers were acutely aware of the importance of the tours continuing to bolster regional tourism in the future.

The Jayco Herald Sun Tour is held in Melbourne and provincial Victoria, sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The first tour was held in October 1952 as a six-day event and is now held annually over five days in February.

“We thank all government and industry stakeholders, sponsors, teams, riders, officials and fans for their loyal and ongoing support of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour and Women’s Herald Sun Tour, and we look forward to racing down a street near you in 2023″