ASO threatens to withdraw the Tour de France from the 2016 UCI calendar, citing stalled reform progress

Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the organizers of the Tour de France, have threatened to withdraw the Tour from the UCI’s calendar, citing a lack of progress in the organization’s reform program.

Reports say that the ASO delivered memoranda stating that the Tour would be stricken from the UCI’s calendar if such progress doesn’t go forward — something that wouldn’t jeopardize the Tour de France’s status as an event, but ensure that it no longer takes place under the UCI umbrella. If that happens, the resulting schism with the UCI would mean that the ASO, without restriction, could make their own team selections for Tour de France competition.

As it stands now, teams that compete in the UCI World Tour get automatically placed at the Tour de France, as well as other high-profile races. If disagreements over reform continue, though, all that changes.

Such disagreements are the latest iteration of an ongoing drama between the ASO and the UCI that came to a head between 2005 and 2008, when the ASO refused to be a part of the UCI Pro Tour — later the World Tour — along with organizers from La Vuelta Espana and the Giro d’Italia. Issues of reform, specifically, hinge on the introduction of a relegation and promotion system for the World Tour, something that the teams oppose. Race organizers, meanwhile, have been at odds with changes to the UCI calendar, proposed to accommodate new race formats — even new races entirely — believed to be better sources of income.

Nonetheless, the UCI is confident in the success of its reforms.

“We are hopeful to finalize soon our discussion with all stakeholders,” a statement from the global regulatory body said, “around a project that will restore the credibility in our sport, promote the sport in both existing and new markets, make the cycling season understood and attractive to fans, and recognize the UCI World Tour as part of a larger and interpendendent system.”

This week, the Professional Cycling Council voted on calendar reform. Validation of the vote from the UCI’s management committee, however, was not received.