National cycling tournament planned for Black Country cancelled due to coronavirus

A prestigious cycling race planned for the Black Country has been cancelled due to coronavirus.

The National Road Championships was due to take place on June 20 before the outbreak of Covid-19.

Road races would have taken some of Britain's best cyclists past landmarks like Molineux, Himley Hall and Dudley Castle.

The route which would have taken riders through the Black Country in June

Past winners of the event include Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, ex-world road champion Mark Cavendish and Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke.

But council bosses are hoping the region can still host a similar event in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which is taking place in Birmingham.

A joint-bid has been made by the four Black Country authorities to hold a 105-mile road race. An announcement on the bid is expected shortly.

Wolverhampton Council leader Ian Brookfield said: "We had just won the National Road Cycling Championships. They had to call it off because off Covid-19.

"The finish line was going to end up in Wolverhampton and as part of that, we put that course [forward] for the Commonwealth Games.

"They [the Commonwealth Games organisers] have been round looking at it. They have given us good noises. We are expecting an announcement shortly."

He added: "It would be good for the city [if the bid was successful]. A billion people will be watching the Commonwealth Games."

Dudley Council Patrick Harley said the National Road Championships would have been a "dummy run" for the Commonwealth Games.

But he revealed the event could return next year, saying: "Yes, that is the whole idea. We are hoping it will become an annual event.

"Obviously Covid-19 has scrapped it this year. We can't help that."

A spokesman for British Cycling, the event's organising body, said: "Due to the impact of the current pandemic all sanctioned cycling activity is currently suspended until June 30, and we are working with Government and other stakeholders to plan for a safe return to racing when the time allows.

"We are in dialogue with partners in the West Midlands regarding this year’s event and future editions, and will provide a further update as soon as we are able."