Medalist Sports announced today that it will not be making any planning efforts for the 2022 Tour of Utah stage race, despite "fervent efforts" to continue the UCI 2.Pro event. In a brief statement, the sports management company said it has asked both the UCI and USA Cycling to remove the event from the international cycling calendar, which was scheduled for July 25-31.

"Ongoing discussions with the sponsors and host community have been positive, but not strong enough to support a viable effort to meet our expectations," Chris Aronhardt, owner and president of Medalist Sports, LLC. said in a statement.

"While disappointed, Medalist Sports is grateful for this opportunity and values the legacy of the Tour of Utah.

In April, Medalist Sports had confirmed a licensing agreement with tournament owner Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, Inc. Rally H. Miller Group of Companies is based in Utah and has owned the Tour of Utah since 2007. The last time the stage race was held as a 7-day 2. Pro Men, Ben Hellmans (Israel Startup Nation) won. The year before that was the breakthrough year for young American Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma).

The Tour of Utah Ultimate Challenge, a non-competitive gran fondo style endurance ride, was also scheduled to return in 2022. Plans for the continuation of this event were not mentioned in the announcement.

The Tour of Utah began in 2004 as a three-day cycling event for amateur and elite cyclists on Memorial Day weekend in May. The Tour of Utah gradually gained UCI-sanctioned status in 2011, and in 2012, the event was renamed the Tour of Utah. The Tour of Utah was elevated to the UCI Americas Tour in 2011 and operated annually under the leadership of Medalist Sports until 2020, when the event was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Medalist Sports has operated a number of major races in the United States, including the Tour of California, USA Pro Challenge, Tour de Georgia, and Tour of Missouri. The company will operate the UnitedHealthcare-supported Maryland Cycling Classic, scheduled for September 4, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland. This UCI men's one-day race has been cancelled for two consecutive years due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The cancellation of the 2022 Tour of Utah leaves the U.S. race calendar without a UCI 2.Pro. Along with the Maryland Cycling Classic, three UCI-sanctioned races are scheduled in the US, including the Tour of the Gila from April 27 to May 1 and the Joe Martin Stage Race from May 19 to 22.

Seven UCI men's events are scheduled in Canada, including the Tour de Beauce from June 15-19 and the Tour de Lavity from July 12-17. WorldTour one-day races will also be held, with the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec on September 9 and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal two days later.