VELO Birmingham will not return until Spring 2019, organisers have confirmed. 

The race, which split opinion last year, took place in September last year and was expected to return this year.

Ride organiser CSM Active, was tight-lipped on Monday when the Worcester News asked for details of this year's ride.

However, they have now said they want to be able to take advantage of the longer days compared to an autumn ride.

The organisers are also developing a new route, which will still be on 100 miles of closed roads, and will again start and finish in Birmingham city centre.

We've previously reported how the controversial event divided opinion in Worcestershire, with many residents and business owners upset by the length of time roads were closed to make way for the event, when it came to the county last September.

Others welcomed the cycling event saying it offered a great spectacle and was a way to promote the county to visitors.

Today, Velo Birmingham has issued promotional material that says the event is moving to a spring date with a brand new route, with the return planned for 2019.

And, because the ride, which saw 15,000 riders take part last September, has now been put back by months, it has been taken off the agenda at Worcestershire County Council’s next cabinet meeting.

Simon Geraghty, Leader of Worcestershire County Council, said: "We are aware that this year's Velo Birmingham cycling event has been postponed. As a result of the organisers' decision, we will no longer debate potential road closures at next week's cabinet meeting."

John Ridgen, chairman of CSM Active, the company which organises the ride said: "While the inaugural Vélo Birmingham was a huge success, it was clear to us that some changes would be necessary if the event was to reach its long-term potential. 

“Together with our partners Birmingham City Council, we are determined to ensure that this wonderful event continues to develop and evolve, becoming not just bigger and better but also more inclusive and appealing to as wide an audience as possible.

"The move from September to the Spring along with the new route will provide us with a fantastic, sustainable long-term platform from which to grow in years to come and we can’t wait to return with an even more spectacular event in 2019.”

CSM has also told potential riders who have pre-registered for the next Velo Birmingham that it is also organising another 100 mile Velo ride to take place this autumn but it won’t say yet where that might be.

A spokesman for the company said it couldn’t say whether the new route would include Worcestershire.

Last year’s event in September saw the riders make an anti-clockwise loop through the county north of Worcester, coming as far south as Ombersley.

The promotional email, encouraging riders to pre-register, says: "In the coming weeks we’re hoping to announce a brand new 100 mile closed road Velo event which will take place in autumn 2018.

"We can’t say too much more at this stage but stay tuned for more details which will follow soon."

No request has yet been made by CSM Active to Worcestershire County Council about the 2019 event.