The Grand Rapids Press reports that this year’s Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic, that takes place in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been canceled.
Amy Miller, a spokeswoman for Michigan-based health care provider, confirmed that the company has put an end to its sponsorship of the race due to economic conditions.
“It was the major factor for us,” Miller told the Grand Rapids Press. “We felt the event here was a huge success, but we had to make some tough decisions in Michigan regarding the economy. This was a tough one.”
This is just another in the latest wave of sponsorship problems caused by the current recession. The Tour de Georgia has closed up shop for 2009, hopefully returning for 2010, and David Chauner’s Pro Cycling Tour events in Pennsylvania have been whittled down to one race.
Priority Health has also terminated sponsorship agreements for what were their Tour de Leelanau and Ann Arbor Cycling Classic races.