US Open cancelled

U.S. Open of Cycling organiser Richard Durishin has announced the cancellation of this year's event due to the economic downturn's impact on sponsorship revenue. The event, due to be held on May 16, had changed venues from Richmond, Virginia to Providence, Rhode Island.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure the sponsorship needed to run the US Open of Cycling this year and are cancelling the event," said Durishin, the U.S. Open Cycling Foundation's Executive Director. "We have already begun discussions with potential sponsors for the 2010 race and we hope that, by then, the interested parties are enjoying the fruits of a more robust economy."

Durishin hopes the race, which came to fruition in 2007, will return in 2010. "We have a beautiful venue in the state of Rhode Island and the City of Providence and look forward to showing it off to the world during next year's event," he said.

The U.S. Open of Cycling isn't the first American race to succumb to the economic downturn. Other races already cancelled for this year include Priority Health Tour de Leelanau, Lehigh Valley Classic, Reading Classic and Tour of Georgia.