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Grand tours and UCI set to battle at European Commission

By VeloNews.com
Published: Jan. 9, 2007

The UCI has filed a complaint with the European Commission alleging that organizers of cycling's three biggest races have conspired to sabotage the ProTour series.

The move is the latest chapter in the long running dispute between the sport's ruling body, which launched the ProTour in 2004, and the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

In a statement Tuesday the UCI asserted that the three tour organizers are acting as an illegal monopoly.

"The UCI has today decided to prepare an official complaint which it will lodge with the European Commission, against the orgainzers of the main Tours. It accuses them of breaking the laws of competition."

The UCI claims that the three jewels in the cycling calendar have set up a cartel to protect their dominant position in professional road cycling.

The statement added: "In particular the organisers of the main Tours have deliberately tried to sabotage the development of the UCI Pro Tour."

The UCI's main gripe with the Tour de France, Giro and Vuelta is the restriction they place on the choice and number of teams that can compete in their events.

The ProTour was introduced two years ago by then UCI president Hein Verbruggen. Organizers of the three Tours in return accuse the Pro Tour - which has established an elite calendar for the biggest teams - of being too restrictive.