2009 TOUR DOWN UNDER ON TRACK

Well the big news in cycling is of course it has been reported that yesterday at the Tour de France a number of teams announced their intention not to renew their UCI ProTour licenses.

The move is effectively a challenge to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which four years ago organised the sport around a ProTour circuit featuring cycling's best professional teams.

What does it all mean for the Tour Down Under?

Mike Turtur, Tour Down Under Race Director, says:

“The 2009 Tour Down Under is on track and on schedule.

“Over the past three days we have spoken to the world's elite teams and they are very supportive of our race and plan to be here in 2009.

“The announcement by the ProTour teams is the latest instalment in the four-year-long battle between the ASO, the UCI and teams based in Europe. We wait to see how it will play out in the coming weeks.

“I am confident that the Tour Down Under will remain part of the elite competition calendar and continue to be a major event in world cycling."


We will keep you updated as plans for the 2009 Tour Down Under progress.