The 14th edition of the Trofeo Costa Etrusca, traditionally the races that open the season in Italy, has been cancelled with the organiser citing family problems. The two one-day races, the GP Comuni Ribardella-Montescudaio and GP Comuni Santa Luce-Castellina were due to be held on the weekend of March 20th and 21st.
Last year’s races were won by Sarah Düster (Cervélo TestTeam) and Linda Villumsen (Columbia-HTC), respectively.
"I have been hit by sudden and serious family problems and I am not able to organise an event as complex as that of the Trofeo Costa Etrusca,” said Renzo Parietti, the race organisation’s general coordinator. “In agreement with my colleagues, whom I thank for their understanding, we decided to cancel our international event for Elite Women.”
The news of the cancellation follows the decision earlier in the month to revert to the previous two-day format, removing the GP Comuni Rosignano-Livorno after just one year citing organisational and financial difficulties. The new race finished in the centre of the city of Livorno and was won by Cervélo Briton Emma Pooley in its one and only edition.
This latest cancellation comes on the back of additional losses including the Tour de Berne, Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt and Montreal World Cup races, as well as the Tours of Montreal and PEI. La Grande Boucle Feminine, formerly known as Le Tour Feminin, has also disappeared after the International Cycling Union (UCI) refused to grant a licence.