The 26th annual Cambridge Tour De Grand has been cancelled by what organizers call "unforseen circumstances."
The website for the annual Cambridge road race relayed the news bluntly to supporters and participants over the weekend, saying the planned June 11 event this year is a no go.
"After 25 years, long serving volunteer members of the organizing committee have retired and it proved difficult to recruit volunteers to serve on a new committee," the post says. "All riders who have registered for the 2023 Tour will receive a refund of their registration fees in the next few weeks."
The bicycle ride was originally created as part of the 1998 celebration of the 25th anniversary of the amalgamation of Galt, Preston and Hespeler forming the new city of Cambridge.
Late co-founder Don Rope planned to make it a one-time event, but it proved so popular, volunteers kept it going.
Last year marked the event's 25th anniversary and more than 1,300 riders took part.
A lack of funding appears to have been the biggest blow for organizers.
Cambridge Tour de Grand had applied to the city for $10,000 through the Community Grants Program but the request was denied because the application was deemed ineligible under the Community Grants Policy.
The new policy doesn't permit funding to go to organizations that raise money for groups that are already part of the grants program and are set to receive "flow-through" funding from donations. The event was, however, successful in getting $4,100 from the city for its 25th anniversary event last year.
Some of the charities that have benefited from the funds raised by the event, include the Kiwanis Club of Cambridge, Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation, KidsAbility, SOAR Uganda and Helmets for Kids.
Organizers also said previous insurance coverage was cancelled and replacement insurance is cost prohibitive.
"Costs for essential services such as policing have increased substantially."
There is some positive news in the post. It says discussions are underway to start planning a new type of community cycling event for 2024.
"Thank you to all of our supporters both cyclists, volunteers and sponsors for all your support over the last 25 years. Cycle safely," reads the final post on the website.
