March 15, 2013 (Boise, ID) – The inaugural UCI Exergy Tour women’s race might also have been the last tour reports The Idaho Statesman. Title sponsor, Exergy Development Group LLC – a company that specializes in renewable energy products, like wind turbines – made the announcement today to cancel the 2013 edition.

“After a highly successful inaugural year, it is with our sincerest regret that Exergy Development Group announces that we will begin initiating the cancellation of the 2013 Exergy Tour by the end of March,” said the company in a statement. “After a tumultuous year, it was our hope that appropriate co-sponsors would assist financially in order to help advance the mission and the event. Exergy Development Group was the sole financial contributor to the 2012 Exergy Tour which stood out as the pinnacle event in the women’s cycling calendar.”

“Millions of dollars were invested to make the Exergy Tour a highly visible and incredible event validating the potential of women’s cycling sponsor recognition and reconstitute the excitement surrounding this side of the sport. It is our goal to resume the Exergy Tour in 2014, and we highly encourage more people to boldly take a stand to dramatically overhaul the sport and to take a leadership role in support of women’s cycling.

“We apologize about the delayed announcement and have made every attempt to make this event possible because we believe in women’s cycling and the opportunities and exposure this race provides.”

The announcement was not completely unexpected with rumours circulating for months that the 2013 Tour was unable to attract co-sponsors and thus in trouble.

The 2012 edition was won by American Evelyn Stevens (Team Specialized-Lululemon) followed by fellow American Amber Neben (Team Specialized-Lululemon) in second and by Canadian Clara Hughes (Team Specialized-Lululemon) in third. German cyclist Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Specialized-Lululemon) won the sprint classification, Stevens was the QOM, and the youth classification went to Canadian Jasmin Glaesser (Team TIBCO-To The Top) while the most aggressive rider classification went to Canadian Clara Hughes.

Idaho Statesman HERE.