Budget issues force 2017 Tour de San Luis to be cancelled

Ten years after its formation, the Tour de San Luis may not be on the cycling calendar in 2017 with a lack of funds reportedly forcing the men's race to be cancelled.

So says Argentinian journalist Marcelo La Gattina, who tweeted that the 11th edition of the race will be called off because of budgetary concerns.

The race has traditionally attracted many of the professional peloton's best climbers and sprinters, with a mix of mountains and flat stages in a less intense environment than its WorldTour calendar rival Tour Down Under.

While many leading WorldTour riders have decided to start their seasons in Argentina in recent years, the race has played host to some memorable performances by local riders.

In 2013 and 2015, Argentinian pro Daniel Diaz beat the likes of Nairo Quintana, Alberto Contador and Tejay van Garderen to win the overall title. And who can forget the then-unknown Fernando Gaviria beating Mark Cavendish in two successive sprints in 2015?

Reports suggest that the women's Tour de San Luis will go ahead as planned in January, having secured sufficient funding from other sponsors and organisers are hoping to resurrect the men's race for 2018.