South African waiting for news after Pegasus complications
Like many of the riders signed up to the Pegasus team, Daryl Impey’s plans for an ambitious 2011 have been thrown into confusion by the UCI’s refusal to give the team a Pro Continental licence. The precise reasons for the decision has yet to be communicated to the team but in the meantime, Pegasus Sports owner CEO Chris White is known to be trying to secure a Continental licence for the season.
Providing that happens, the riders who have not already gone to other teams will have a ride, but having a licence two levels below what was initially aimed for will impact on the ranking of the races it can take part in. Gone are any hopes of a Grand Tour in 2011, and other events on the programme will also be curtailed.
One of those affected is the South African rider Daryl Impey, who confirmed to VeloNation today that he is still uncertain as to what he will do in 2011.
“At the moment I’ve no news, really,” he said. “I am still awaiting the Pegasus outcome next week but maybe I will hear some positive news this week.
“Either way by Friday I will make my decision as to where I will go. One option is to be loyal, wait and pray for a miracle whilst the other is to become involved in a team in South Africa to join the Pro Continental ranks in 2012. The main goal is to get back into the Pro peloton after all the bad luck I’ve been dished the last 2 years.”
Impey underlined his ability in 2009 when he won a stage plus the overall classification in the Presidential Tour of Turkey. However the biggest success of his career was also nearly disastrous for it, as Dutch sprinter Theo Bos put him into the barriers on the final stage, causing serious injuries. Fortunately Impey was able to recover and result racing later that season.
He secured a contract with Team RadioShack but had a quiet season, with the high points being top ten placings on stages of the Tour of Austria, twelfth in the GP d’Isbergues and 21st in the Vattenfall Cyclassics. Moving to Pegasus Sports seemed like a good move as the team was confidently talking about netting either a ProTeam or ProContinental licence. However it encountered sponsorship complications and the UCI turned down both applications.
Impey is a talented rider and will keep his fingers crossed that his luck will change.