Almost five decades before the UCI established the Gran Fondo World Championships for riders over 35 years-olds, the World Masters Cycling Federation held the first world road championships for aging amateurs in St. Johann in Tirol, Austria.

Now, after crowning world road champions and awarding prized rainbow jerseys for 57 years the world championship event will not return.

Organizer Michael Baumann made the difficult announcement on the event website:

Dear cycling family!

After a meeting marked by mutual esteem with the leaders of the community and the tourism association St. Johann in Tirol, we decided to end the Masters World Championship/Radweltpokal after 57 years.

The reasons for this are the ever-increasing road traffic and the related regulations.

It is simply no longer possible to get the necessary roadblocks approved. Even the relocation of the start and finish area did not improve anything. We know that many of you did not like our attempts to combine age-groups, because that does not allow riders to read race tactics – as usual in cycling – and fight for victory.

Separate masters age-group racing was always our concept, which cannot be held in one day like a gran fondo. These road races were the heart of our Masters World Championship. All those who have sprinted over the finish line at the Wieshofer Mühle know the incomparable feeling associated with it.

Of course, we regret the end of this long and beautiful run very much. It was a pleasure to meet you every year.

Stay healthy and take care of yourselves!
Michael Baumann

Photo Credit: WMCF

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