Having come back from the dead in 2014, Viva Bike Vegas will not return in 2015.

Organizer Perimeter Bicycling has announced that shortfalls in the level of support offered by local municipalities and agencies have made the event unviable.

Viva Bike Vegas riders in happier times

Last year, Perimeter took over the Las Vegas event, which started in 2008, after the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada pulled out citing losses of $117,000 in 2013 as rider numbers declined from 2,351 in 2012 to 1,731 and sponsorship fell.

Perimeter, a 501(c)(3) organization, which runs the El Tour de Mesa, Cochise County Cycling Classic and El Tour de Tuscon events, took over on condition that a portion of the traffic control and safety equipment expenses were met.

RTC, City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson and VisitVegas.com came up with that support and 380 riders participated in 2014 over courses of 101, 62 or 25 miles circling Las Vegas and passing by the magnificent peaks of Red Rock Canyon.

According to Perimeter, the four bodies that had provided funding in 2014 recently told Perimeter that they would not provide the same level of support.

 "Sadly, Perimeter will not produce a 2015 event in Las Vegas. We're a small non-profit organization that relies on the support of local municipalities in order to produce an event of this stature," said Richard DeBernardis, President & Founder of Perimeter. "We loved working with everyone in the Vegas community."

"El Tour de Tucson and El Tour de Mesa are what they are today because the local municipalities support these events through City, County, and/or convention & visitor bureau funding. Without municipal support, Perimeter Bicycling is unable to produce events like this," he explained.

Perimeter events rely on partners and sponsors to help reduce the cost of production expenses at its events otherwise cyclists would have to pay a $200 - $250 entry fee per event, according to Perimeter.

"Perimeter events are partnerships with cyclists, businesses, local municipalities and non-profits that benefit from the event," DeBernardis said.

21/04/2015 - The hard men of the White Clay Bicycle Club's Icicle 100. Credit: Marty Lessner.

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