Cycling Union

Emportée up in a spiral of conflict between ASO, the organizer of the Paris-Nice, the International Cycling Union has threatened direct runners to participate in the event, for which the teams have announced their engagement from 9 to 16 March. Last Degree dated in this escalation, the threat of the UCI has doubled Tuesday evening the refusal of its chairman, Pat McQuaid, to meet with the Secretary of State for Sports french, Bernard Laporte, as proposed by the French federation the request of the Union of European federations. "The UCI launches totally disproportionate threats against riders and teams (such as fines, suspension, exclusion)," said ASO, the main organizer of the World Cycling (Paris-Nice, Tour de France). ASO has insisted on the legality of his race, "organized under the auspices of the FFC and in accordance with French law," and stressed that it "has the support of the Ministry of Sports and the French Agency for fight Anti for the organization "in the race, the first big rendezvous of the season. "A grave mistake" On the merits, ASO explained ask "two simple things: the maintenance of the Paris-Nice race among the major global calendar, the choice of system for selecting teams for the Tour de France," namely an open system from criteria and ethical sportsmen, and not the closed system of licences and wantonly advocated by the UCI within the ProTour. " The organiser had beautiful game to emphasize also that an agreement had been reached with the AIGCP (International Association of teams) for a negotiated agreement "in a constructive spirit". The AIGCP, chaired by the French Eric Boyer, in fact obtained the desired improvements in the contract which was submitted to the teams for Paris-Nice. In essence, resort to arbitration by the National Olympic and Sports Committee french in the event of litigation, especially in the field of ethics and image of cycling. "The decision of the teams to participate in the Paris-Nice is linked to their willingness to guarantee the interests of their sponsors and their sporting interests and those of their riders," recalled the AIGCP. Questioned by AFP on threats of suspension of the UCI, Eric Boyer reacted coldly: "It would be a grave mistake." Verbruggen called into question The six European federations (Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Austria), in disagreement with the UCI ProTour in its current form, also protested against this threat. In a statement, they argued against "that their teams and riders are taken hostage and threatened:" They do not accept being threatened with sanctions that could deprive their athletes to participate in championships World and Olympic Games. " These federations have also called into question Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI (and current vice-president). They suspect the promoter of the ProTour want to provoke a breach. "Recent statements by co-vice president, Hein Verbruggen, openly advocating (...) for a split of the world cyclist leading to the establishment of a commercial structure on the sidelines of Federations, unfortunately show that tries cause a break rather than trying to find a common ground ", felt the federations. "The UCI will be strong," responded Eric Breukink, manager of Rabobank noting the mall Pat McQuaid. "We spérons a solution because the riders want to Paris-Nice."