There will be no Bayern Rundfahrt in 2016. As announced on Monday, the organizers of the only German stage race have been unable to fill the budget gap of 300,000 euros which is why for the 37th edition won't take place from May 25-29 as planned. In 2017 they aim for a new edition.

"It is a bitter decision after we had one of the most successful tours ever in May," said race director Ewald Strohmeier. Due to the "responsibility towards our partners, in particular with respect to the stage towns and the teams that will need certainty regarding the planning for next year" the decision has been made to cancel the race which was first held in 1980. 

Following the withdrawal of the main sponsor, the Bavarian cooperative banks, Strohmeier and his team did not succeed in finding a successor in time. Now the coming year will be used to set the direction for a successful future. "There will be no interruption in our efforts. We now concentrate fully on 2017," Strohmeier announced.

A few weeks ago, the 66-year-old had had told radsport-news.com about the possibility of selling the race to an investor. "There are several requests and as an option also the model to organize the Bayern Rundfahrt completely by a private company," Strohmeier said in early December.