For the third time in three years, the UK’s amateur edition of the Tour de France, L’Etape UK, has been cancelled due to Covid.

Tour de France organiser A.S.O. blames cancellation on a lack of resources due to ongoing effects of the worldwide pandemic.

“Covid-19 continues to impede the events industry, hampering the resources that would need to be committed and invested to stage the event. Consequently, a decision has been taken to cancel the sportive in 2022,” A.S.O. wrote in an sent to riders.

After cancelling in 2020 and 2021, A.S.O. had yet to set a firm date for the 2022 edition in the Chiltern Hills and now has no firm plans to hold the event in 2023.  Registered riders will be sent an entry voucher for other amateur cycling, running and triathlon events in the UK.  In a continuing trend within the gran fondo world, no refunds are being offered.

The L’Etape by Tour de France is a worldwide series of gran fondos that allow amateur cyclists the opportunity to ride like a Tour de France pro cyclist for a day.   For 2022 the series includes 27 events on 5 continents, with the first two events scheduled on 20 February in Ecuador and Indonesia. 

PHOTOS: L’Etape by Tour de France