The 2012 Sudbury Fitness Challenge - Mountain Bike Tour has been cancelled.

What was to be the fourth annual event was scheduled for July 29 at the Naughton Cross-Country Fitness Trails; however, due to low registrations, organizers have decided not to host it.

Rob St. Marseille, president of the Walden Mountain Bike Club, said the event didn't draw the numbers needed to put it on.

“We probably would have needed around 50 (registrations), but we were nowhere near that,” he said. “I was really surprised, because we had more than 90 racers last year. We're kind of baffled as to what happened this year.

“We're disappointed, but we'll try again next year after we meet to discuss what could have caused registrations to be so low. Normally, it's a very popular event.”

The Mountain Bike Tour is part of the Sudbury Fitness Challenge, a series of events where points are handed out in each race. It is normally held in mid-August, but the Beaton Classic is scheduled for that weekend, St. Marseille said.

“We had to fit this in before the Ontario Cup, and this was the date that seemed to work, but apparently not,” he said. “Perhaps it's just the timing.”

Another possible contributing factor is the fact organizers transitioned from paper registrations to online registrations he said.

“Or, maybe people are just away this weekend, we don't really know. It's too bad.”

Sponsors' gifts and donations will be retained for the 2013 Mountain Bike Tour.

Posted by Arron Pickard