David Chauner, president of Pro Cycling Tour, said yesterday that their three-stage race dubbed the “Triple Crown of Cycling” is having serious sponsorship issues. Chauner said the event lost its major sponsor for the races in Allentown and Reading as a result of the current global financial crisis.
“TD [Bank] is no longer sponsoring the Triple Crown series,” Chauner told The Morning Call. “They’re going to be sponsoring the Philadelphia race, but will not be sponsoring the Lehigh Valley Classic.”
TD Bank bought the race’s original sponsor Commerce Bank earlier this year. Chauner said TD Bank could continue it’s sponsorship for the other two races, but if they did they would take a smaller role.
Chauner said he will attempt to work with officials in Allentown and Reading to secure sponsorship so the event can run all three stages in 2009.
Reading Mayor Tom McMahon told the Reading Eagle, “I have been angling to get some kind of bike event back here in town. I’m just not sure if there’s enough time or money to do this.”
With the current economic environment sponsorship for cycling is very difficult to find.
“The city can’t put cash into it other than having police and EMS available during the race,” the Mayor added. He agrees that the race was good for the community and acknowledged, “If we don’t have it, people will miss it. People really liked cheering on the racers, having the barbecues. It really brought the city alive.”