Hamburg Cyclassics survives for 2009

The one-day race Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg, is bucking the current trend in Germany. The organisers announced that the race will take place in 2009, as well as most likely being broadcast by German television.

The race is produced by the Upsolut Agency, which admitted it had considered cancelling the event, according to German news magazine Welt. In the end however, the organisers decided to apply again for ProTour status for the race in 2009, and requested that it be held the weekend of August 15-16.

The NDR, the local public German broadcaster, has already indicated its willingness to carry the race again, and the major German broadcasters ARD and ZDF also have an option on the race.

The event also has no sponsorship problems, according to Upsolut director Frank Bertling. "In Cyclassics and Skoda we have held on to our two major sponsors," he said.

Upsolut also organised the Deutschland Tour, which has been cancelled for 2009, but Bertling doesn't compare the two races. "The Deutschland Tour had a couple of good years, but could never really establish itself."