The Town of Okotoks has played host to many major sporting events and set to host a few more before the year is out but one that won't be coming back at least for this year is the Tour of Alberta Bike Race.

Okotoks did play host to a stage in the Tour in 2013 but with a $100,000 or $150,000 beside either being a starting block or a finishing line it wasn't in the books for council to approve hosting another race, at least not this year.

Councillor Tanya Thorn says with the Grand Slam of Curling set to make noise in the fall, scheduling and planning for the race that would run a month before the Grand Slam wasn't going to add up.

"The fact that it's coming to us after we've already done our budget for the year," she says. "It means we have to try and find a place for that money and in today's economic times there's a lot of things we can do in our community that supports the people that live in this community. I recognize the Tour of Alberta is a great economic boost for the community but that's fairly major price tag."

Despite saying no this year. Thorn says that doesn't mean the Tour won't return to Okotoks.

"We certainly can look at it in 2017 I think that's a great opportunity but the Grand Slam of Curling have been in front of us for over a year now. They've got an event coming in October, we've got a significant amount of resources dedicated to that both on staff and volunteers and a financial commitment that we've made to that event for this year."

The Tour is currently speaking with High River on whether they'll be a stop in a proposed stage from Waterton and finishing in town.

Thorn added simply there's only so many options and events one Town's budget can look at per year.

"Sometimes you have to pick and choose."

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