It is understood that organisers have not been able to reach a decision on whether to proceed with the race as planned, or change the route to avoid more problematic sections.

Mike Garvey, one of the organisers of the event, told EC that organisers were not able to agree on an alternative route, as all proposed options would add either too much length or complexity.

“A number of alternative routes were suggested, but none of these stood out as an obvious alternative, one that would be comparable to the route that has been chosen for all previous years’ races.” He added that many of these alternatives would also present new safety issues to contend with.

Another organiser, Julian Parkinson, stated that cyclists have been complaining about the disputed sections of the route for some time, with some having been involved in accidents on a stretch between Stowmarket and Lavenham.

James Layton, from cycling safety body CycleFirst, stated that a lack of funding meant that certain popular stretches of road in the East of England were in “worse shape than ever” and that the biggest rise in complaints over the past year to CycleFirst concerned this area.