Organizers of the Tour of Somerville have announced that the long-running American criterium has been canceled this Memorial Day weekend due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. According to a press release issued Monday, organizers are aiming to bring it back in 2021.

"For decades, the Tour of Somerville has been known as a must-win event for bicycle racers, and we are committed to seeing it continue to grow and thrive after this one-year hiatus," Mike Malekoff, executive director of the Tour, said in a press statement. "We are pleased to announce that our title sponsor, Unity Bank, has agreed to sponsor the event. From our title sponsor, Unity Bank, to the entire cycling community and town officials, everyone is on board with moving forward to 2021."

The Tour of Somerville, which began as a men's event in 1940 and is now called the Kugler-Anderson Memorial, has only been canceled once, during World War II.

The men's race was named after the first two winners, Furman Kugler of Somerville (1940, 1941) and Carl Anderson of Clifton, NJ (1942). The race was suspended during World War II and both men lost their lives, but it resumed in 1947 and was named in their honor.

The race has produced numerous champions, including Jocelyn Lovell, Steve Bauer, and Davis Finney.

The women's Margaret Kugler Women's Open began in 1976 and has been won by Karen Strong, Sue Novara-Lever, Karen Bliss, Laura Van Gilder, and Tina Pick.

Last year's winners included Conor Salley and Maggie Coles-Leister, respectively.

"There may be bigger races, more spectators, more prize money, but the focus of the race is always to work with the community to create a venue for a classic event, so there is only one Somerville," announcer Joe Salling, announcer, said. Indeed, the race has become so entrenched in the community that no one in town calls it the Tour of Somerville, but simply knows it as the "bike race."

USA Cycling suspended all races, camps, and clinics until May 31, announcing that the COVID-19 coronavirus had forced them to cancel or postpone the race until later in the season.