The first stage of the inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland has been called off due to “extreme weather conditions” in Fife.
However flooding on the roads has left parts of the route “impossible” for riders to pass through.
Organisers say the first stage of the tour was abandoned on safety grounds following discussions with police.
A statement from the tour’s organisers reads: “Due to extreme weather conditions we have taken the unfortunate decision together with Police Scotland and the other relevant authorities to abandon today’s stage.
“Conditions have proven impossible due to heavy sections of standing water. Rider safety is therefore paramount and conditions were no longer safe to continue.
“Due to extreme weather conditions we have taken the unfortunate decision together with Police Scotland and the other relevant authorities to abandon today’s stage.”
1/3 #WTOS pic.twitter.com/hC6cdXZN3m
— Women's Tour of Scotland (@womenstourscot) August 9, 2019
“The winners of today’s Event Scotland Queen of the Mountains and Motorola Solutions Sprints classifications will still be presented in Dunfermline, however the rest of the teams have returned to their accommodation.
“As it stands, we still plan to commence the start of stage two in Glasgow tomorrow.”
Cycling teams set off from the city and across the Tay Road Bridge before heading on to Cupar in the battle for the inaugural Baillie Gifford leader’s jersey.
The busy crossing between Dundee and Fife was closed to traffic as the athletes set off, causing major congestion.
The cyclists had been due to travel through Kinross, with the race finishing in Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park.
Stage two will leave from George Square in Glasgow on Saturday and finish at the council chambers in Perth.
The final stage begins from Edinburgh on Sunday and will start and finish at Holyrood Park and take participants on a 118km heat through the Scottish borders.
Heavy rainfall and a forecast for thunderstorms led to a number of events across Tayside and Fife being cancelled.
