The two-week classic stage race, the Vuelta a Cuba, will not take place in 2011. The president of the Cuban Cycling Federation, Jose Pelaez, noted at a press conference that the decision was made "as part of a necessary rescheduling of the plan of national and international competitions and the implementation of a strategy to face upcoming events such as the Pan-American Games in Guadelajara later this year and the Olympic Games in London in 2012."
The hope is that the resources saved through canceling the arduous two week tour will be better served bolstering the rest of the Cuban sports system according to Pelaez.
"This decision will help devote all of our efforts and resources to complete the key objectives in Cuban sports at the next stage."
With that in mind, it's not surprising that the cuts in cycling will not affect Cuban baseball, the island nation's sport of choice, and also the country's showcase discipline on the world's stage.
The cancellation of the Vuelta a Cuba goes with the theme of President Raul Castro's recent budget cuts with the goals of reducing the burden on the state by eliminating assorted, unnecessary expenses including half a million public sector jobs according to EuropaPress.es.
According to the Cuban News Agency, Cuban cyclists will utilize a number of other major cycling events to prepare for the listed goals of the Pan-Am Games and the coming Olympic Games in London. In the coming weeks and months, the Cuban National Team plans to race the Vuelta al Tachira in Venezuela, the Tour de San Luis in Argentina, the Track World Cup in Manchester, England, and the Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Holland.
The race, first run in 1964, has been cancelled on a number of other occasions, including 1970, 1975, 1982, and the period between 1991-1999.