No Niedersachsen Rundfahrt in 2009

The Niedersachsen Rundfahrt won't be held in 2009, just as it was not held this year, the organisers have announced. "Since virtually all of our sponsors have cancelled their engagements, the financing is absolutely hopeless," Otto Pätzold, head of the organising group, told rad-net.de.

The group announced in January that the race was cancelled in 2008, but that it hoped to be back in 2009.

Not only were sponsors and money lacking, there was also difficulty finding cities to host the stages. The organisers tried to set the race up for the coming year as an U23 race, but were unsuccessful.

However, there will still be racing in 2009. A juniors race of 85 km and an everyman's race are planned for April 26 in Göttingen, Germany, and the Neidersachsen Rundfahrt for juniors will be held July 25 to 26, in and around Wallenhorst, Germany.