CRONULLA'S showpiece cycle event that attracted the best riders in the sport, big crowds and an economic boom for Sutherland Shire has been cancelled because the state government has withdrawn funding.
The NSW Grand Prix Cycling event has been staged annually at Cronulla since 2010.
Event organiser Phill Bates said he faced a shortfall of more than $300,000 to stage the 2014 race.
"The event costs more than $400,000 to stage and government funding went from $140,000 to zero this year," Bates said.
Sutherland Shire Council recently voted $20,000 in services to assist the event.
Bates said it was hard to estimate what the event was worth to the local economy.
He said teams stayed for a few weeks, which was a boost to hotels and motels, restaurants and retailers.
Bates said many shire businesses benefited on race day at Cronulla when thousands of spectators were out and about in the shire.
"I am working with Cronulla MP Mark Speakman and the council, who are supportive to get it back on the road in 2015," Bates said.
He said he wanted a meeting with Premier Mike Baird to get the race reinstated.
"The race was also televised by Channel Nine, giving the event great exposure," Bates said.
"It is disappointing for the sport of cycling. I have administered the sport for 48 years and the NSW Grand Prix was the only occasion that international cycling was being staged in NSW."
Bates said it was the first cycling series to give men and women equal billing on a television network.
Fans have now been denied the chance to watch top riders such as Chris Sutton of Caringbah and Rochelle Gilmore of Cronulla in action.
Sutton won the first Grand Prix series; Gilmore won Commonwealth gold in Glasgow and silver in Melbourne.
"The big names of Australian cycling have supported and competed in the event," Bates said.
Can the Sutherland Shire community lobby the State Government to reinstate our great cycle race?
