ProTour teams may boycott Giro and Vuelta

The 20 ProTour teams (AIGCP) are maintaining their threat to boycott the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, unless their participation money is increased. After the AIGCP met in Maastricht on Saturday, a communique signed by president Patrick Lefevere was issued as follows:

"The 20 ProTour teams have decided, in total unity with the AIGCP, to keep their position vis-a-vis the Giro and the Vuelta not to participate in the Giro and in the Vuelta if we do not come to an agreement on the participation expenses for 2005. Nevertheless, we will continue to negotiate with RCS in the hope that cycling will win. The two parties will probably meet next Monday in Brussels if an agreement is not reached.