Paris Nice 2008

With Paris Nice just a week away relations between the cycling's governing body, the UCI and race promoters the ASO have sunk deeper into the mire.

The first shots were fired a long time ago during the 2007 Tour de France, but the situation worsened when the ASO said that Paris Nice would be held under the auspices of the French Cycle Federation and not the UCI. The UCI responded with a toughly worded statement saying that Paris-Nice will be unregulated if held outside their remit. The ASO response was succinct - "Despite the hostile positions taken by the UCI President, Paris-Nice will take place as planned from the 9th to the 16th of March and will be organised according to the technical rules of the French Cycling Federation, in application of the French law."

Despite the threats race teams have entered saying that they have commercial and athletic responsibilities to consider. The UCI asked them to review their position highlighting the terms of the ASO race contract which gives the ASO the power to expel teams and individuals at their command. The teams did question the ASO, but have said that they will race and this decision has undermined the UCI's position.

On February 29 said; "ASO’s refusal to register the Paris-Nice on the international calendar is not for sporting reasons. ASO’s refusal is related to its current policy with regard to the UCI. This consists of a rejection of the regulations that govern cycling in preference of its own rules, drawn up to protect its own specific economic interests."

The UCI have now stated that a threat of sanctions hang over the race and on March 1 the UCI made it clear to the riders their position; "The UCI reminds riders that their participation in the Paris-Nice under these conditions could have several unfortunate consequences for them."

So is the World of professional cycle racing about to see its World turned upside down? From the UCI perspective the row is a direct threat to their status as the chief arbiter of the sport, whilst the ASO represent a body of opinion that does not want commercial interests (Their races) to be harmed by scandals that they blame the UCI for.

It is a serious threat to the stability of our sport and yes, it could have far reaching results.

February 29 UCI Statement
The stability of cycling is now being threatened by ASO’s manoeuvrings.

It is essential that the world of cycling reacts.

While ASO could have registered the Paris-Nice on the international calendar, as had been agreed with the Presidents of the French, Italian, Spanish, Belgian and Luxembourg national federations in Treviso, it preferred to register the event on the French calendar with special status.

This status means that the participation of professional teams is prohibited and places the event outside international regulations, effectively making it a "rogue" event.

Consequently, the UCI will not perform for the Paris-Nice the duties usually carried out for international calendar events: provision of commissaires, allocation of points, organisation of anti-doping controls, etc.

ASO’s refusal to register the Paris-Nice on the international calendar is not for sporting reasons. ASO’s refusal is related to its current policy with regard to the UCI. This consists of a rejection of the regulations that govern cycling in preference of its own rules, drawn up to protect its own specific economic interests.

The contract offered to teams participating in the Paris-Nice demonstrates clear and disturbing proof of this situation and must lead to unanimous opposition.

Teams signing the contract would in fact be enrolling in a private league, entirely controlled by ASO to serve its commercial interests.

The teams would be renouncing the protection of UCI regulations: these have the purpose of guaranteeing the rights of teams and riders, not just organisers.

The contract only concerns rights for ASO and obligations for the teams. The sole purpose of the contract is to protect the image of the event and ASO’s commercial interests.

ASO may decide to exclude a rider or complete team simply on the basis of a rumour about doping. There is no provision for checks by a neutral individual or body, as set out by the UCI regulations. The disastrous consequences of this situation can be imagined.

ASO will itself determine the reasons for exclusion and will be the sole decision-making body. ASO has given itself the right to impose fines (30,000 euros) that would go straight to the coffers of the French Cycling Federation.

ASO would appropriate all the image rights for the teams and riders for its own benefit. The teams would be virtually powerless in terms of communication.

This is a further demonstration that the teams would be entirely at the service of ASO’s interests.

All those involved in cycling must refuse to submit to the diktats of a private company and should opt for the universal application of regulations, guarantees of fair treatment and the protection of interests.

March 1 UCI Satement
Paris-Nice: the UCI calls upon teams and riders to act with caution and respect the regulations

The UCI wishes to react to comments made in recent days, in particular in the press, by Mr Eric Boyer, President of AIGCP (International Association of Professional Cycling Teams).

According to a press release issued by Mr Boyer on 27 February, all the teams had been consulted before a unanimous decision was reached to participate in the Paris-Nice. This decision was supposedly taken after a discussion of the conditions of their participation in the event.

After having consulted several team managers, the UCI notes that Mr Boyer’s statements do not correspond to the actual situation: several teams were not consulted. It is thus false to assert that the teams unanimously decided to participate in the Paris-Nice.

The AIGCP met on 29 February. According to Mr Boyer, the teams agreed on the amendments to the contract between AIGCP and ASO concerning their participation in the Paris-Nice. This is not true either: not only did a restricted number of team managers attend the AIGCP meeting, but the majority of these declared that they were opposed to the contents of the press release of 27 February.

The truth is thus that the teams did not come out in favour of participation in the Paris-Nice irrespective of the conditions. In fact, several teams contacted UCI seeking to take part in the Paris-Nice under UCI regulations.

The UCI considers it necessary, urgent and legitimate to question Mr Boyer’s hurry to have the teams sign a contract proposed by ASO, which denies them, as well as the riders, basic rights in respect of the organiser, to be replaced by obligations without reciprocation. Mr Boyer, however, does not seem concerned with respecting UCI regulations.

The UCI also notes that, following the agreement that it reached in Treviso with the presidents of the French, Italian, Spanish, Belgian and Luxembourg national federations, the Italian, Belgian and, this week, Spanish federations, have registered the events of the organisers RCS, Unipublic and ASO on the agreed calendars (Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, Giro d’Italia and Tour of Lombardy for Italy, the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège for Belgium and the Vuelta a España for Spain). The only races that are still "rogue" events, without regulation, are those organised by ASO in France. It is only ASO that now intends to impose, through the intermediary of the President of the AIGCP, a contract on the teams – and as a result on the riders – who will no longer benefit from the protection offered by UCI regulations.

The UCI reminds riders that their participation in the Paris-Nice under these conditions could have several unfortunate consequences for them, in particular the lack of insurance in the event of an accident if the insurance companies refuse to cover a race held outside the regulations. This is just one example of the consequences. The participation of a rider in the Paris-Nice may also have regulatory consequences, including a possible suspension of up to six months.

The UCI reiterates its appeal to the teams and their riders to respect UCI regulations as set out in the contract they have signed. Those involved in cycling must be protected by a single set of regulations. Cycling must be governed by a structure that reconciles the interests of all and must not be subject to the diktats of the entity with the most financial influence.

The UCI demands that ASO should register its events, starting with the Paris-Nice, on the calendars agreed in Treviso (2008) in accordance with the commitment made by the President of the French Cycling Federation. The UCI wants the Paris-Nice to go ahead, but under the framework of UCI regulations.