By Monika Prell
The UCI is steadfast that the ProTour teams do to participate in Paris-Nice, but the ASO, organiser of this race and also of the Tour de France, announced that teams that do not participate in Paris - Nice might also not be allowed to participate in La Grand Boucle.
Today, the teams, as part of the International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT), have a meeting in Paris to decide what they will do. All French ProTour teams are willing to compete Paris-Nice, and some teams are pressured by its sponsors to ride the Tour de France, like the Belgian team Predictor-Lotto.
The situation is also very complicated for José Miguel Echávarri, who has a Spanish team with a French sponsor, Caisse d'Epargne. According to the Spanish newspaper AS he declared, "I've got the impression that we, the teams, are like a tennis ball in a match of strength between the UCI and the Tour. I've got my opinion but I'll reserve it for the meeting."
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