The Examiner revealed yesterday that the popular series that traditionally attracts a wealth of cycling talent to the state had almost certainly run its last race after the Swiss- based governing body withdrew approval to use the tracks at Burnie, Latrobe and Devonport.

But Kevin Tabotta, who has been Cycling Australia's national technical director since 2005 before which he was Tasmanian Institute of Sport cycling coach for eight years, said the development did not necessarily spell gloom for the annual sporting spectacle.

And former Tasmanian scratchman Graeme Hodskiss, who played a major role in helping redefine the Launceston Carnival last year, agreed.

"This is maybe an opportunity for the carnivals," Tabotta said.

"One door has closed but is there a way for another to open? This could be an opportunity for Cycling Tasmania and the carnivals people to see what they can do to continue."

He suggested this could include increasing the Silverdome-based carnival to two days or making use of riders who are in town to compete in the Launceston Classic.

"The carnivals hold a special place for me and I know the hierarchy are very keen to make sure they survive into the future. But like all events, they may have to morph to become more relevant.

"We've got to keep thinking `how can we do things better?' and maybe it's going to take some pretty bold decisions because only the strongest events will survive."

Hodskiss, the Latrobe Wheel winner in 1975 who has since become heavily involved in the carnival series through the City of Launceston Cycling Club, was similarly optimistic.

"I don't think this will have a great deal of impact," he said.

"It could turn around and work the other way that we get a lot more endurance riders back to ride the track. Latrobe could go back to the 10-mile scratch race which used to be their blue-ribbon event.

"There are definitely some gains that could come out of this such as there are no reasons why we could not run a madison at the Silverdome and they are great to watch."

The former carnivals cycling co-ordinator questioned whether riders from around the Asia-Pacific region would continue to come to Tasmania for just one event.

He sympathised with former Sports Carnivals Association of Tasmania president Grant Atkins who put in most of the legwork to secure the UCI series and felt Cycling Australia should do more to protect the carnivals series through its scheduling of competing events like the Bay Crits.

"It is probably being a little bit over-protective to say that the outdoor tracks are not safe," Hodskiss said. "There's always a risk of falling, whatever track you are on."