The Tour of Norway, one of Scandinavia’s top cycling events, will be cancelled for 2026 after the Norwegian government withdrew its financial support. The decision comes after the government secured a majority for its new budget. That left organizers without the funds needed to continue. Although the news was made official today, the possibility that it would be cancelled has been out there for a while.
A decade of racing
“For ten years, the event has relied on a mix of public funding, private sponsors, and volunteer support to bring an international cycling race to Norway,” Roy Hegreberg, managing director of Tour of Norway, said. “It has been an important platform for Norwegian riders and a key arena for promoting the sport.”
Hugo Houle finishes runner-up in Arctic Race of Norway
In November, he warned what might happen. “If they don’t reverse this, it likely means we will have to cancel. Other revenue sources at this scale have not been anywhere near what we’ve seen in the last ten years,” Hegreberg said to TV2.
What next?
Fjords Cycling, the organization behind the race, is entirely owned by volunteer cycling clubs. It does not have the resources to run the event independently. The board confirmed that planning for the 2026 edition has been halted.
Hegreberg acknowledged the government’s right to set priorities but said the lack of prior consultation was a shock. “This came out of nowhere. And there has been little willingness to discuss options with us,” he said.
The race has always been organized “by and for the sport,” with every dollar reinvested to improve the event.
Organizers expressed gratitude to the 150–200 volunteers and teams who return year after year. While 2026 is now off the calendar, Hegreberg said efforts would continue to bring the Tour of Norway back in 2027.
“We hope this is a temporary setback, not the end,” he said.
In 2025, Matthew Brennan of Team Visma – Lease a Bike won the men’s edition. In the women’s it was Mie Bjørndal Ottestad of Uno-X Mobility.