The organiser of the internationally acclaimed Nocturne cycling races in Shropshire has been forced to cancel this year’s event because he has to undergo cancer treatment, it was revealed today.

Mick Jeggo, who owns Davies and Jeggo Cars in Newport, took the decision to cancel the Newport Nocturne now so as not to face the prospect of letting down sponsors, riders and race fans at the last minute.

The biannual event, which should have been held this September, will now take place on September 4, 2010.

Mr Jeggo is the driving force behind the Nocturne which traditionally brings more than 10,000 spectators out onto the streets of Newport town centre for a night of floodlit racing.

Nick Jeggo, Mr Jeggo’s son and co-organiser, said his 69-year-old father could be out of action for a few months as he has to undergo hospital treatment for bone marrow cancer.

Mr Jeggo, 47, said: “He was diagnosed with myeloma, which is bone marrow cancer, earlier this year.

“He is currently having chemotherapy but he will have to undergo stem cell treatment at hospital in Birmingham, as well as at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

“That starts in two weeks and is quite intensive but there could be a gap of four to five weeks between the two different parts of the treatment and that would take us nearer and nearer to the race date for this year.

“As a result, he took the decision to postpone the event but next year’s promises to be bigger and better than ever.”

One of the sponsors of the Nocturne is Newport Town Council and the mayor, Councillor Adam Stanton, said: “The message was passed yesterday to the clerk, Lee Jakeman, that because of Mr Jeggo’s health situation he had had to postpone the event until 2010.

“I have known Mick Jeggo for many years and he has always done a fantastic job of organising the event. There would be no Newport Nocturne without Mick. We wish him all the best.”

By Simon Hardy