Silence-Lotto explains Paris-Nice reasoning

"Our team has decided to participate at Paris-Nice," said Team Silence-Lotto, explaining simply, "We do not want to take a position, we want to race."

Noting the importance of the race to the team, and "with regards to the engagement by the UCI ProTour four years ago, our team has decided to participate at Paris-Nice, for the interest of cycling," the team said in a press release.

"But our team wishes – for the cycling sport, for our supporters, for our riders and for our sponsors – that a dialogue starts between UCI, the race organizers, the teams and the riders, to put an end to the present conflict situation," it added.

The statement concluded, "It is high time that all parts start considering, and that a solution is found, cycling has already suffered enough."

Cyclingnews' recent coverage of the ProTour-Grand Tours split

October 4, 2008 - New ASO chief to maintain values
September 26, 2008 - UCI declares peace, appoints new VP
August 30, 2008 - UCI re-signs five ProTour races
August 22, 2008 - ProTour: Bouncing back or lame duck?
August 19, 2008 - Stapleton analyses 'world calendar'
August 18, 2008 - Feedback on 'world calendar'
August 18, 2008 - UCI announces 'world calendar'

Cyclingnews' complete coverage of the ProTour-Grand Tours split