Giro, Vuelta, Le Tour

Who owns the right to hold these races? From what I can
understand, the newly formed UCI bought or was given the rights
to run a heap of races around the world, in the name of unified
governance, and called it the Pro Tour.

Those who own the three grand tours (is that the right
terminology?) would rather hold onto that right than join the
unified cycling body.

Is there significant money to be made from holding the tours? Or
is it more of a 'We've always done it, no one can do it better
(or tell us we aren't doing it that well)'.

Do teams have to be registered with the UCI to enter a Pro Tour
event?

Who decides how many teams can enter an event? How are they
selected? What if a team changes owners, are they a new team or
the continuance of an old team? How does the TDU get to be on the
Pro Tour?

It's puzzling.

Brendo

Here is cyclingnews take on almost the entire history of this dispute

*http://tinyurl.com/2txzwn*
- a perfect bit of light reading for your afternoon recovery session


--
monsterman

monsterman wrote:
Here is cyclingnews take on almost the entire history of this dispute

*http://tinyurl.com/2txzwn*
- a perfect bit of light reading for your afternoon recovery session


Recovery from a late night!! Missed the ride the morning, young
fella was up before I could leave!!

So let me see if this is correct.

Each nations cycling federation ran it's own collection of races.

They collaborated so that the timing of races meshed with
everyone elses schedules.

The UCI came along with the intention of unifying the races, so
there would be one set of heirarchy to deal with, and to make one
large promotional and advertising body worldwide.

The independant nations said 'Yay. This is good for cycling in
the big picture. Lets go ahead with this Pro Tour thingo.

Then they realised they would be losing money, power, or both.

And they got their backs up and are now making it impossible to
unify the sport under one body worldwide.

Is it that simple? My backyard vs the big picture?

Brendo