Tour of Ireland cancelled

The 2010 Tour of Ireland has been cancelled due to "current economic conditions".

Seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong raced in the 2009 event - won by Russell Downing, who is now at Team Sky - as part of his comeback season.

However, the race scheduled for August 18 to 22 has now been cancelled, with organisers hoping it will return in 2011.

A statement on the event's official website, www.tourofireland.ie, read: "The organisers of the Tour of Ireland international cycle race have announced that the race will not go ahead as planned between August 18-22 this year."