The Tour of Norway organisers continue their push for government funding to make sure the race can go ahead in 2027. Their next step is to meet with the Rogaland parliamentary delegation, the organisers confirmed in a statement on October 19, after both the men’s and women’s events were cancelled this year.
"We haven't given up. An update on our efforts to secure Tour of Norway 2027," the organisers wrote alongside the statement.
They said their work involves discussions with Norwegian government representatives and has the backing of sports organisations. They are also asking for public support to make a 2027 edition possible. The organisers say the race provides financial benefits for businesses in the area, and that Norway needs an international race for women as the only other pro race is the men’s Arctic Race of Norway run by Tour de France organiser ASO.
Left out of the budget again
This latest update by the race organisers comes after the government’s proposed national budget omitted the Tour of Norway from funding yet again. The organisers announced this on October 7, saying that the government support was a necessity for the race to go ahead in 2027 and the years thereafter. They held the Labour Party in Norway responsible and have appealed to the opposition and other parties to intervene during Parliament’s autumn budget negotiations.
"The budget is still just a proposal. We are asking Parliament to step in, fix this, and ensure that international cycling races in Norway are treated fairly," race director Alexander Kristoff said at the time.
The organisers said politicians from several parties had called the original withdrawal a "mistake", and that increased government support for the Arctic Race of Norway had raised their hopes of having their own funding restored.
The organisers said the women's race was hit hardest by the funding loss. It became part of the Tour of Norway in 2025 with two stages, while the men raced four. Plans to move it from 2.1 to 2.Pro and add a stage in 2026 were shelved after the cancellation.
"This is especially critical for our women's event, which has been so important for us to build up alongside the men's race. Without support, we lose the chance to grow a top-tier international race for women in Norway," managing director Roy Hegreberg said on October 7.
The race was cancelled last December after the government withdrew a state contribution that had covered around half of an annual budget of about 20 million NOK (just over €1.7 million). Fjords Cycling, the organiser, belongs to cycling clubs run by volunteers and said it did not have enough capital to run the race independently. The Ministry of Culture and Equality said long-term special treatment for cycling events conflicted with its principle of treating sports equally.
Kristoff, who retired after the 2025 season, became race director on June 1. A 2,000,000 NOK grant from the Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank foundation made the appointment possible, and returning both races in 2027 is his central objective.
The men's race has since appeared on the emerging 2027 calendar for May 27–30. Fjords Cycling still describes a new edition as unconfirmed. The organisers say government funding is necessary for either race to return and are asking Parliament to restore it during the current budget negotiations.
