Tour de France News for May 23, 2003 Edited by Chris Henry UCI discusses Coast/Bianchi situation By Tim Maloney on Monte Zoncolan UCI president Hein Verbruggen was in the press room atop Monte Zoncolan today talking to the world cycling press regarding the status of former team Coast. The UCI is looking at the situation carefully but it realises that Bianchi has provided a long term commitment to take over the team. Since the UCI wants to encourage companies who are willing to make a long term commitment, it is working with the team to try and resolve the situation. "We're doing our best to support these efforts," said Verbruggen. UCI auditing firm Ernst and Young is examining all of the final information presented regarding the new sporting group, and in a short time are expected to present further information to the Professional Cycling Council (PCC). Once that is presented, then there will be a decision as to whether the new sporting group will enter into the top club or enter as a second division team. There should be around 20 riders remaining on the roster of the new team, including Jan Ullrich. Verbruggen said that it wouldn't necessarily impact their Tour de France status, as Jean-Marie Leblanc can invite Bianchi-? as a wild card. Clearly the UCI is supporting the whole process, but it does not shed any further light on the status of Domina Vacanze getting a start in the Tour. Tomorrow night, Leblanc will be in Italy at the headquarters of Tour sponsor Elite. He is expected to meet Mr Preatoni, the owner of Domina Vacanze, to discuss the selection issue. It seems as time passes, and with the unfortunate retirement of Mario Cipollini from the Giro due to injury, that the chances of Domina Vacanze starting in Paris are diminishing. Team Bianchi official The UCI announced Friday afternoon the official registration of Team Bianchi. The new team takes the place of Team Coast following the two suspensions imposed upon Coast by the UCI due to irregular payment of riders and a general uncertainty concerning the team's financial viability. As of today, Team Bianchi is afforded a place in the Top Club, which grants the team all rights of participation to races on the international calendar. In a written statement, the UCI acknowledged the efforts of title sponsor Bianchi to salvage the situation facing the riders and staff of Team Coast. "The independent legal and financial structure of the Bianchi Team, the willingness to commit to cycling for the next few years, the fact that this [trade team] is welcoming the whole of the riders and staff from Team Coast wishing to join it, as well as the economical warrantees provided, have enabled the UCI to approve the integration to the Top Clubs as they prove satisfactory to all regulation-aspects." Given this placement of Team Bianchi in the Top Club, the team's entry into the 2003 Tour de France should be all but assured. The Société du Tour de France left the option open to replace Team Coast with another team if the suspension weren't lifted, or if this new trade team did not develop in sufficient time. However now that Team Bianchi has been granted official status by the UCI, the Tour would have no grounds to exclude the team, meaning Jan Ullrich should race the Tour, and Mario Cipollini has most likely seen his last chance for an invitation disappear. Brioches-La Boulangère preselection for Tour The team director of the Brioches-La Boulangère team, Jean-René Bernaudeau, has made a preliminary selection of 10 riders for the Tour de France. Brioches-La Boulangère is the only pure French team in the race, and gained one of the four wild cards when they were handed out by the Société du Tour de France last Monday. The selection: Walter Beneteau, Sylvain Chavanel, Anthony Geslin, Emmanuel Magnien, Damien Nazon, Jerome Pineau, Franck Rénier, Didier Rous, Fabrice Salanson and Thomas Voeckler. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003)

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