Lance Armstrong's Team RadioShack will be without chief Johan Bruyneel for important races in March.

The Belgian lost an appeal to change the start date of a suspension imposed because he insulted officials at the 2010 Tour de France.

However, Bruyneel can work at the January 2011 Tour Down Under around Adelaide, which is scheduled to be seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong's farewell professional ride outside the United States.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said yesterday it dismissed Bruyneel's challenge to an International Cycling Union ruling that ordered him to serve his two-month ban in February and March.

The full reasons for the court's emergency decision will be published later.

Bruyneel wanted the suspension applied in January and February before the top-tier European road races begin.

A ban through March forces Bruyneel to miss three stage races, including Paris-Nice, and one-day classics Milano-Sanremo and Gent-Wevelgem.

Armstrong rode his final Tour de France in July and was involved in a controversy before the final stage to Paris.

RadioShack riders arrived at the start line wearing black jerseys with "28" on the back to support Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation. The number honoured the 28 million people worldwide fighting cancer.

Bruyneel's team did not seek permission to wear the unofficial uniform and the stage start was delayed by 20 minutes while the riders changed into approved jerseys.

The Belgian manager posted a message on Twitter that Tour de France officials "don't need brains", though he soon removed the post and apologised.

The UCI, which said the delayed start jeopardised broadcasters' schedules, ruled in October that Bruyneel insulted officials. It imposed a two-month ban and fined him 10,000 Swiss Francs.

The riders were each fined 2,500 Swiss Francs.