ongoing investigation that we might feel does not fit in with the direction that we want to go in.?

The Pro Tour itself continues to cause ripples of unrest within the European professional scene.  Last week the UCI announced the final line-up of the twenty teams that will compete in the inaugural Pro Tour itself.  The final three teams added were Bouygues Telecom (formerly Brioches La Boulang?re), De Nardi-Domina Vacanze and Lampre-Saeco, the later two both being amalgamations of existing Italian teams.  These teams will join those already approved: Cofidis, Credit Agricole, CSC, Davitamon-Lotto, Discovery Channel, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Fassa Bortolo, FDJeux.com, Gerolsteiner, Illes Balears, Liberty Seguros, Liquigas, Phonak Hearing Systems, Quick Step, Rabobank, Saunier Duval and T-Mobile.  At this stage the organizers of the three major tours, ASO, RCS and Unipublic, still maintain that their events will not be included in the 2005 Pro Tour.

Speaking last week at the Entente Cordiale Paris-London race in
London, Tour de France Director, Jean Marie Leblanc, said, ?There is a profound division between the UCI and ASO.  Our lawyers are talking to their lawyers to improve working relations and I hope we can build a bridge. But without ASO, the Pro Tour will mean nothing.?   As it currently stands, besides the Tour, Giro and Vuelta, next year?s Pro Tour will be missing such great races as Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastonge-Liege, Paris-Tours, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo and Giro di Lombardia.

Already thinking of 2005 and planning your trips to your favorite pro races?  Why not start the year as you mean to continue with an exclusive trip to the Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under in
Adelaide.  Places are strictly limited so don?t miss out on your opportunity to join some of the top European riders in
Australia?s amazing summer sunshine.  Log on to www.freerideoz.com for more info.

Keep your thoughts and opinions coming in to ian@roadcycling.com.

Till next week?

Ian