The Tour of Norway will not take place in 2026 after the Norwegian government removed its financial contribution from the long-standing funding partnership that underpinned the race. The decision, confirmed as part of the newly approved state budget, leaves organisers without the economic foundation required to stage the event.
In a statement, race director Roy Hegreberg expressed deep disappointment at the sudden cut, describing it as a shock to the organising committee and the many volunteers who have built the tour over the past decade. Hegreberg noted that the event has relied on a shared model involving public funding, private partners and the country’s cycling clubs. That structure allowed the race to grow into an internationally recognised event on the UCI calendar while giving young Norwegian talent an essential platform.
Photo Credit: GettyThe board of Fjords Cycling, which is entirely owned by volunteer-based cycling clubs, has therefore voted to stop all work on the 2026 edition. Without state support, the organisation simply does not have the financial strength to bridge the gap.
Hegreberg said he respects the government’s right to set its priorities, but criticised the lack of communication leading up to the announcement. He highlighted the race’s long-standing role within Norway’s sporting landscape, emphasising that its resources have always been reinvested directly into improving the event. Over the years, the organisation placed particular focus on gender equality by establishing Scandinavia’s only top-level stage race for both men and women.
The cancellation also affects the Tour of Norway Women, which enjoyed strong momentum in recent seasons, including Mie Bjørndal Ottestad’s dramatic home soil victory in 2025. Both races have grown into important fixtures for developing Nordic riders and for bringing international cycling to local communities.
While the 2026 edition will not go ahead, the organisers stressed that they will work relentlessly to revive the event for 2027. They thanked the 150 to 200 volunteers who support the race each year, the teams that return annually, and the public and private partners who have stood alongside the tour since its inception.
A race with a significant legacy
Since its launch in 2011 as the successor to the Ringerike GP stage race, the Tour of Norway has mirrored the country’s cycling boom driven by stars such as Thor Hushovd and Edvald Boasson Hagen. The race quickly became a key fixture on the UCI Europe Tour and, following its 2019 merger with the Tour des Fjords, developed into a six-day event traversing southern Norway.
It has produced memorable winners, from Boasson Hagen’s multiple titles to Remco Evenepoel, Axel Laurance and, most recently, Matthew Brennan in 2025. The women’s edition, introduced in 2023 and refined over two days in subsequent seasons, provided a valuable showcase for emerging riders. Ottestad’s 2025 triumph remains a highlight, with her decisive late attack in Stavanger still fresh in the minds of Norwegian fans.
The organisers hope that this setback will be temporary and that a return in 2027 will allow both races to reclaim their place on the international calendar. For now, Norwegian cycling loses one of its most visible stages, and a project built by volunteers, clubs and regional communities enters an unwanted pause, waiting for the chance to restart.
