Five ProTour teams are in danger of being excluded from Paris-Nice, which is set to start this Sunday, unless they pay the fees owed for the International Cycling Union’s biological passport program.
UCI president Pat McQuaid told a news conference, “There are five ProTour teams that are due to start Paris-Nice that have not paid their contribution for the biological passport.”
Each of the teams have until the close of business Friday to complete the transaction.
“Cofidis, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Silence Lotto, Quick Step and Caisse d’Epargne have until the end of business today to pay their contribution or they will not take part in Paris-Nice. They have been informed of the requirements in correspondence and during discussions,” he said.
The contribution McQuaid is referring to will be used to implement the biological program, the UCI’s weapon against the war on doping.
Each team owes 120,000 euros, of which half (60,000) is currently due.