pro tour is dead

[climb01742]

from cyclingnews:

All teams decide to leave UCI ProTour series

The UCI's ProTour series appears to be officially dead after all 17 teams at the Tour de France decided to leave the series and not renew their licences next season.

"It has been decided unanimously not to renew the ProTour licences for the 2009 season," read a joint statement from the teams.

The only ProTour team not present at the Tour de France, Astana, is also expected to leave the ProTour. "If everybody decides so, I can't imagine Astana will not follow," Astana chief press officer Philippe Maertens told Reuters.

UCI President Pat McQuaid told Reuters that all the teams could face exclusion from the UCI. "We'll deal with that according to the regulations," said McQuaid. "They face exclusion from the international federation. It is something we are going to discuss."

Cyclingnews will have more on this story as it develops.


quite the game of chicken.

[znfdl]

The commentary on the tour coverage should be quite interesting.

[ergott]

What good is a governing body with noone to govern. UCI has to listen up, adapt or die.

-Eric

[hupomone]

+1, maybe they should acctually becaome a union to represent the riders.

[Fixed]

swoop tell us your thoughts on this ..
cheers
butch

[Your_Friend!]

Friends!



Pretty Soon

They Will Be

In_Charge Of

All The Races

In East_Pakistan!




Love,
Y_F!

[72gmc]

I love McQuaid's response because it is so pathetic. The gurgling groan of a dino disappearing into the tar pit.

[Ray]

UCI President Pat McQuaid told Reuters that all the teams could face exclusion from the UCI. "We'll deal with that according to the regulations," said McQuaid. "They face exclusion from the international federation. It is something we are going to discuss."

We quit, and we're taking all of our clients with us!

You can't quit, you're fired!

Too late, we quit!

Well, OK, but you're ABOUT TO BE fired!

Cool, we're still taking all the clients.

You couldn't make this stuff up.

-Ray

[junior2189]

the pro tour is negative raving. with all of the focus on points.
JUNIOR

[Shinomaster]

Friends!



Pretty Soon

They Will Be

In_Charge Of

All The Races

In East_Pakistan!




Love,
Y_F!

There is a race in Turkiye as well.

[Your_Friend!]

Shino!



It Will Probably Be

2.HC Next Year!



Love,
Y_F!

[Shinomaster]

Fun! Worth a trip to the promised land of edible delights for sure! Turks are very friendly people!*








* unless you are not their friends.

[SteveP]

There is a race in Turkiye as well.

hey, thats a good race. i'm sending the team next year...i have sent guys in the past.
first class all the way.
believe me.
find a different example.

5 star hotels, daily expence money... for usa cat 1 riders this is the freakin pinnacle.
your room could be next door to petacchi...
whats not to like shino..
you should know this.

[Shinomaster]

hey, thats a good race. i'm sending the team next year...i have sent guys in the past.
first class all the way.
believe me.
find a different example.

5 star hotels, daily expence money... for usa cat 1 riders this is the freakin pinnacle.
your room could be next door to petacchi...
whats not to like shino..
you should know this.

Milram was there this year. Your shittin' me SteveP?? You_r team is going? You should have Rustem take you!

[SteveP]

Milram was there this year. Your shittin' me SteveP?? You_r team is going? You should have Rustem take you!

it'll be rustem as team manager..
for sure.

he sets them up like freakin kings.
i treat them like the serfs they are.

from me...
"listen, we dotn have enough guys to set up a lead out train...just jump into the milram train and jump at the end..."

how could this go wrong?

[SteveP]

brings back some memories of the last time i sent guys over there...
one of the guys calls me from turkey...
steve, i need a release to ride in this race as you are not here.

me to him.
write up a release yrself, sign my name and run a copy through the fax machine to make it looks like i faxed it over.
perfect.
99% of this crap is made up. you gotts learn to deal with it.

he got dropped the first mt stage and i thk finished outside the time cut.
good vacation though.

[Shinomaster]

brings back some memories of the last time i sent guys over there...
one of the guys calls me from turkey...
steve, i need a release to ride in this race as you are not here.

me to him.
write up a release yrself, sign my name and run a copy through the fax machine to make it looks like i faxed it over.
perfect.
99% of this crap is made up. you gotts learn to deal with it.

he got dropped the first mt stage and i thk finished outside the time cut.
good vacation though.

Great stories SteveP! YOU know Husam from ata? He raced in Turkey as an amateur. His coach made him train in the mountains without a seat!
I'm glad your team enjoyed their vacation.

[SteveP]

Great stories SteveP! YOU know Husam from ata? He raced in Turkey as an amateur. His coach made him train in the mountains without a seat!
I'm glad your team enjoyed their vacation.

sure,
i know husam.
doesnt ride enough now.

[agilismerlin]

for once

tradition trumps greed.

who woulda' thunk it ?

[Shinomaster]

sure,
i know husam.
doesnt ride enough now.

I think he's really into pimped out cars.