Last year, the UCI was threatening ASO for not inviting all 20 ProTour teams to Paris-Nice. You may remember that French law didn’t allow the sponsorship of professional sports teams by wagering organizations (shh . . . don’t mention the Lotto team).
In actuality, most people believed that the real reason for ASO’s decision had more to do with their ongoing with the UCI than some arcane French law about where you place your bets. Whatever the reason, as a result of that controversy, the ASO decided to put Paris-Nice on the French national racing calendar.
Well guess who’s upset again this year?
Ten points if you mentioned a certain former Irish professional cyclist who now runs the world governing body for cycling.
So now, in addition to the UCI’s Pat McQuaid being upset with ASO for their unilateral decision to uninvite Team Astana from participating in the 2008 Tour de France, now McQuaid is rattling his saber over the ‘nationalization’ of Paris-Nice.
Here’s the press release sent out today by the UCI:
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