Tenerife Pulls Plug on 2026 La Vuelta Hosting After Gran Canaria Withdrawal
Tenerife will not host the 2026 La Vuelta Ciclista a España cycling race after Gran Canaria withdrew from the joint investment, making the event financially unfeasible for the remaining parties.
Tenerife's Vice President and Tourism Minister, Lope Afonso, has stated that the Canary Islands will not host the 'La Vuelta Ciclista a España' cycling race in 2026. This decision comes after Gran Canaria's island council decided not to participate in the project.
Afonso explained that a three-way investment was planned, involving Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and the Canary Islands Government, with an estimated cost of around seven million euros. However, with Gran Canaria pulling out, the remaining two bodies cannot afford the expense.
He stressed that bringing such a large sporting event to the islands presents significant logistical challenges, including the considerable cost of moving a large number of people from mainland Spain.
The Vice President confirmed that Tenerife's position on the event has remained consistent. He felt it was wise to be cautious and see how the situation developed.
Afonso noted that circumstances have changed, both internationally and in the sporting world. For example, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team will be renamed next year, reducing its connection to Israel.