Tour de l'Avenir Femmes cancelled for 2026 as organisers say 'women's under-23 teams are currently not numerous or structured enough'

The Tour de l'Avenir Femmes, a crucial development race for U23 women, has been cancelled for its planned 2026 edition. Organisers attributed this decision to a perceived lack of sufficiently numerous or structured women's under-23 teams, stating the current landscape does not support the event's viability. This abrupt halt comes after its successful inaugural edition in 2023, won by Shirin van Anrooij, and just ahead of its second running later this year.

This cancellation is a significant blow to the women's development pathway, particularly as the men's equivalent has long been a proving ground for future Grand Tour contenders. While the women's peloton has seen substantial growth, the organisers' assessment highlights a critical disconnect between top-tier professional structures and the foundational U23 category. It underscores the ongoing challenges in fostering depth and formal support at the developmental level, contrasting sharply with the UCI's stated ambitions for women's cycling.

Evidently, the "growth" of women's cycling is still a rather top-heavy affair. One might suggest that if the U23 teams aren't numerous enough, perhaps the organisers should consider *why* that is, rather than simply throwing in the towel.