SweetSpot Group, the organisers and promoters, of The Tour of Britain, are disappointed to learn that Britain's national Tour has not been granted an upgrade to 2.HC status for 2014.
An upgrade to the 2.HC level had once again been requested by SweetSpot from the UCI via British Cycling for next year's edition, which will take place from the 7th to 14th September.
However organisers were disappointed to learn on Thursday evening, via the publication of the 2014 UCI Europe Tour calendar, that the application had been unsuccessful with no explanation provided by the UCI.
SweetSpot have contacted both the UCI and British Cycling to request an explanation for the decision and would like to register their disappointment at the continued lack of communication from the UCI on the matter over the past 24-months.
Thus far an adequate explanation for the decision or clarification on the criteria for an upgrade to HC status has not been provided.
SweetSpot firmly believe that after a decade of continued growth and development, and with global live television coverage for the past two years, The Tour of Britain deserves to be elevated to HC status for 2014.
Under 2.HC status The Tour of Britain would be afforded more UCI points and an increased prize fund, while also allowing for a greater percentage of the field to be drawn from the UCI Pro Team division.
Domestic UCI Continental teams registered in the UK and a Great Britain national team would still be allowed to participate in the race with HC status as per UCI regulation 2.1.005.
The Tour of Britain is currently ranked at the 2.1 level by the UCI, the third tier of ranking for stage races. The current 2014 UCI Europe Tour calendar lists thirteen 2.HC events between March and August, including the Tours of Turkey, Belgium and Denmark, with the Tour of Norway joining the list of HC events for 2014.