The Colombian Cycling Federation has canceled the 2021 Tour Colombia (open in new tab) race, which was scheduled to take place between February 9 and 14, citing the risk of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

With the Tour Colombia gone, the men's professional season will be much more European-centric than in previous years. Argentina's Vuelta a San Juan and the UAE Tour will take place in January and early February, while Australia's Tour Down Under (open in new tab), Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Herald Sun Tour have already been canceled, La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in Central Africa and the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia have also been cancelled.

With the loss of several early season stage races, major teams are expected to concentrate on traditional European events such as Challenge Mallorca, Etoile des Besseges in southern France, and Volta a la Comunita Valenciana in Spain. 2021 All races in early 2021 will be run under the strict UCI COVID-19 protocol, but will depend on the risk of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mauricio Vargas, president of the Colombian Ciclíso Federation, explained the reasons for the Tour Colombia cancellation in a letter to the UCI and Mundo Ciclístico Magazine website.

"It was a very difficult decision for the Executive Committee," Vargas said. [Governments, health authorities, sports, teams, coaches, managers, and even cyclists have been searching for ways to implement this great event. But the most logical and reality-consistent conclusion was to cancel next year's race, and we hope that we can resume the race in 2022 with the necessary enthusiasm and determination."

"The main reason for the cancellation was to protect the health of not only the caravan, but the environment as a whole. This is an event that attracts millions of people and it is impossible to control the crowds, as demonstrated in previous years.

The success of Colombian riders in recent years has made the Tour Colombia a prestigious event, with Egan Bernal, Rigoberto Urán, Sergio Iguita, and even Julian Alaphilippe and Richard Calapaz having ridden this race.

Bernal won the inaugural event in 2018, named Colombia Oro y Paz, and finished fourth in 2019 while serving Team Ineos teammate Iván Sosa; in 2020, EF Pro Cycling won the opening team time trial; in 2020, EF Pro Cycling won the opening round of the team time trial, and in 2011, EF Pro Cycling won the overall victory, Higuain took the overall win.