The International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste Internationale, UCI) has stated that the decision by Tour de France organisers to register on the national calendar of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) rather than on the UCI’s international calendar is ‘deeply regrettable’.
An official release by UCI stated that: ‘ASO’s decision is bad for cycling. Given that the Tour de France will now take place outside the ambit of the UCI, it will not benefit from the oversight of International Commissaires, or from the involvement of the UCI Anti-doping Inspectors. Riders and teams will, by participating, expose themselves to sanctions, and [Tour organisers] ASO alone are to blame for this.’
UCI considers the French Federation’s support for the Tour organisers’ request to be ‘deeply regrettable for sport and for the unity of the cycling family.’ UCI has threatened sanctions against riders and teams competing in this year’s Tour. The Tour commences on 5 July in Brest and ends in Paris on 27 July.
