Giro insists on half stages

Despite the rejection of the Professional riders association CPA and its representatives in the ProTour council, Jens Voigt (also see: interview with Jens Voigt), Giro d'Italia organiser RCS is determined to go ahead with the planned half stages on the final day of the three weeks Grand Tour in 2006.

At the general meeting of the race organiser's association (AIOCC) on Friday, RCS director Angelo Zomegnan said that he maintained his will to carry out the proposed 11 km-time trial up the Ghisallo mountain, before finishing the stage race in Milano on May 28, 2006. "According to UCI rules, half stages are permitted. It's only within the framework of the ProTour that they forbid it - but RCS doesn't have a ProTour licence," Zomegnan said. Along with its French and Spanish counterparts ASO and Unipublic, RCS still refuses to enter the UCI's top circuit for European road racing.

Meanwhile, the Vuelta a Pais Vasco, which is part of the ProTour and traditionally features two half stages on its final day, will have to review its schedule for next season.