Norway will not be represented in the elite men’s or women's races at the European Championships in France this week after their home federation was left out of pocket by the change of venue from Nice to Plumelec last month. It means star riders like Edvald Boasson Hagen will not be on the start-line this weekend.
Norway will not be sending an elite men’s or women’s team to the European Championships in France this week because of a lack of funds.
They had booked accommodation in Nice where the championships were originally due to take place but when the venue was changed Norway as left out of pocket by a Nice hotel’s refusal to refund them money.
It’s unsure how much exactly the Norwegian cycling federation lost out on but sources close to the team have informed stickybottle that the figure is believed to be around €50,000.
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Because of that, the federation decided to withdraw their elite men and women from events.
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They did send juniors and U23 riders, however, and that decision was vindicated when Ivor Knotten took bronze in the junior men’s time-trial and Andres Leknessund finished fifth this morning.
Norway hadn’t officially named their elite men’s or women’s teams but one source told stickybottle that the budget allocated for the World Championships in Doha next month as well as sending teams to Brazil for the Olympics last month had left them stretched.
Interestingly, some female riders had offered to pay their own way but were refused the distinction of representing their country by the federation.
“Basically it comes down to cash,” said an informed source. “They had already paid for hotels in Nice and Qatar isn’t budget-friendly.
“And the Olympics as well in the same year made it difficult. They have only sent junior and U23 riders for their development- but small teams.”
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