Belgian federation not chasing European league

Belgian Cycling Federation chairman Laurent De Backer has quashed claims by Tour of Flanders chairman and KBWB treasurer Louis de Laet that the Belgian federation wants changes to the ProTour structure or the UCI will risk the threat of a rival European league. De Laet made the remarks in the lead up to yesterday's 125th anniversary celebrations for the Belgian body, claiming the Belgian federation wants a tear away European league in conjunction with the three Grand Tours and its French, Italian, Spanish and Austrian counterparts.

"What De Laet said in the media is his own personal view point and is certainly not the official view of the Belgian federation," De Backer told HLN.be. "We want to remain loyal to the UCI, where we are with the KBWB one of the founders. There is certainly no talk of a tear away. On the contrary, we want to have a good talk with the guys from the UCI and work towards a common consensus."

De Backer did however support the notion of sitting down with the UCI to work on evolving the ProTour into something that better accommodates all party's needs. "The KBWB has nothing against the ProTour, but can't see how this concept is going to work," De Backer explained. "We could all benefit by sitting around a table and finding a correct solution."