Cycling tour revamped for next year
By RAF CASERT, Associated Press Writer April 22,
2004 LIEGE, Belgium (AP) -- A new cycling tour
will be introduced next season in which the best
teams will be forced to compete in more races.
The creation of the Pro Tour was announced
Thursday by world cycling authorities in a shake-
up of the sport's calendar.
The World Cup of one-day races and the governing
body's ranking system will be scrapped in favor
of an overall Pro Tour ranking.
The Tour de France will remain the world's
biggest race, with 100 points going to the
winner. A one-day classic like the Ronde of
Flanders or Paris-Roubaix will earn 50.
The Pro Tour next year will require the
leading 18 teams to take part in 30 one-day
and multistage events. The Pro Tour would
amount to about 180 days of mandatory cycling
for the teams.
UCI world cycling federation president Hein
Verbruggen wants top racers visible throughout
the March through October season. He also wants
to make it tougher for riders like Lance
Armstrong, who peaks during the Tour de France,
with his whole team geared primarily toward the
July race.
Verbruggen referred to such former champions as
Belgium's Eddy Merckx, who excelled throughout
the year in one-day races and tours.
``I am bothered time and again that we have ever
more riders who specialize themselves,'' he
said. ``It is not in line with the traditions of
cycling.''
Some team leaders, however, say the new calendar
will lead to a wide gap between the top and
lower squads. And some organizers whose races
fail to make the Pro Tour think the new schedule
will doom their event.
The Pro Tour would feature the top teams in the
three biggest events -- Tour de France, Giro of
Italy and Spain's Vuelta. That would assure
better exposure for sponsors.
To be part of the top 18 next year, teams will
have to provide financial guarantees and abide
by an anti-doping policy.