Catalunya tour on the ropes

The world economic crisis continues to hammer races across Europe.

The latest to face difficulty covering its costs in the tough financial climate is the Volta a Catalunya, the weeklong ProTour race held each May in Spain.

The race is asking Catalunya’s regional government to help cover half of the race’s 1.2 million euro budget, according to a report by the Spanish wire service EFE.

One of the race’s top sponsors pulled out of a 200,000 euro obligation just a few days ago, leaving race officials scrambling to make up the shortfall. Officials have two weeks to come up with the full budget to obtain required permits.

“If in two weeks we don’t receive the money, the Volta will not start,” a source told EFE. “It would be very sad, in the year that the Tour de France arrives to Catalunya, that the Volta isn’t held. It’s an historical race that represents Catalunya sport and it shouldn’t disappear.”

The world’s economic woes have already forced several races to fold. This week’s Vuelta Comunidad a Valenciana was canceled due to a lack of sponsorship dollars while the planned Sochi Tour to debut this year in Russia was put on hold.

Under UCI rules, a race can miss one year and not lose its place on the international calendar.

The report outlined some of the race’s expenses. Anti-doping controls cost 30,000 euros, each ProTour team receives a payment of 7,500 euros and hotel expenditures for eight-rider teams with eight support staff tops 300,000 euros.

Due to its budget problems, the route still has not been established for the 2009 edition. The race charges 48,000 euros to cities hosting an arrival and departure.

One of the world’s oldest stage races, the Volta is set to celebrate its centenary in two years. Officials are hoping the race will still be around.

FILED UNDER: Road