Generations of Irish bike riders have grown up riding the Junior Tour and some of the world's best, including Bradley Wiggins and most of the British Team Sky riders, have ridden the event. Above, Brian Ahern wins in 1999.
The biggest race for juniors in the country, the Junior Tour of Ireland is facing closure after 35 years because of a crisis in funding, it has emerged.
Race director Alice Sherratt told stickybottle the event had not had a sponsor for many years and had been surviving on cash reserves built up during the period of the Celtic Tiger when it was financially healthy.
However, since the recession began the race had gradually used those reserves each year and was now “reaching an end point”.
“The race costs €35,000 to promote every year and as I sit here today talking to you I have €10,000 for next year,” Sherratt said, referring to the race grant funding provided by Cycling Ireland.
Advertisement
“We had money (saved) from before, but that’s all gone now; it’s finished, we’ve no money in the bank.”
She added that but for the generosity of the Irish Veteran Cyclists’ Association (IVCA) and Clare County Council, who had combined provide €10,000 last year; the event would have already run into extreme financial distress.
And she insisted she was not overstating the crisis when warning the race’s imminent collapse was possible without an immediate intervention.
While Usher Irish Road Club had granted her permission to retain for the Junior Tour any surplus revenue from her promotion of the Bikeworx Series in Mondello, Co Kildare, during the summer months, there was still a massive shortfall for the junior showpiece in August.
Michael O'Loughlin wins on Gallows Hill this year from overall victor Eddie Dunbar; O'Loughlin has since on to take 8th in the World TT Championships and Dunbar has secured a pro contract for next year (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
“We literally don’t have the money,” she said.
“I’m going to have to go out now and see if I can get more sponsors but it’s an impossibility.
“I’ll have to go back to the council in Clare to see if I can get the €5,000 for next year again, and the same with the IVCA.
“But I don’t know if that will happen; if it can happen every year. And even with that money and the Cycling Ireland grant, we are still well, well short.
Related News
“This race could go. I really mean that, we might lose this race. We just don’t have the money to keep this going.
“We lost Stena as a sponsor and then we lost M Donnelly and since then we haven’t had a sponsor.”
She felt Cycling Ireland needed to do more to bring in sponsorship to help fund races like the Junior Tour.
“We feel it’s an important race and the bottom line is that if you don’t get the juniors into the bunches, you won’t get the seniors.”
The race began in 1979, driven by legendary cycling figure JJ McCormack, with Sherratt assisting.
Ryan Mullen won a stage and held the yellow jersey in the race in 2012; he has since gone on to win medals at the Europeans and Worlds on track and road (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
Pat McQuaid assumed control of the event around 20 years ago but his period in charge was very brief, with Sherratt stepping in again 15 years ago.
She has run the event since then with her team of volunteers.
At the annual general meeting of Cycling Ireland in Athlone, Co Westmeath, this afternoon a proposal was discussed that would have seen a €2 levy placed on all racing licences for next year, with the estimated €8,000 raised to go to the Junior Tour.
The motion, proposed by Bikeworx Celbridge CC, was discussed by delegates for a period before being defeated by 46 votes to 26.
A number of those who spoke said while the Irish cycling community supported the race and wanted to see it survive, they opposed the imposition of a levy on the basis it created a dangerous precedent.
However, Sherratt said if other events wanted to avail of the same mechanism in the future; it would be a matter for delegates at future annual meetings to decide upon.
Some delegates suggested a sportive be promoted with the monies raised used to save the event.
Topics
