Anyone know how Basso can return to ProTour Liquigas? What happened to the 4 year ProTour ban? Is this a hint that teams don't expect the ProTour to exist next year?

Anyone know how Basso can return to ProTour Liquigas? What happened to the 4 year ProTour ban? Is this a hint that teams don't expect the ProTour to exist next year?

I know the UCI is still maintaining the semblance of it this year, but isn't really already dead?

I imagine from most team's perspectives it no longer exists :)

I thought I read that for some reason the ProTour extra ban didn't apply, though I can't recall the reason. I've not heard anything however I assume it has been recently announced that Basso is going to Liquigas...?

[Edit]

Off to check the cycling sites instead of arguing here ;)

I thought I read that for some reason the ProTour extra ban didn't apply, though I can't recall the reason. I've not heard anything however I assume it has been recently announced that Basso is going to Liquigas...?

[Edit]

Off to check the cycling sites instead of arguing here ;)

Did Liquigas go back to continental status?

I think the 4 year pro tour team eligibility was something willfully imposed by all the teams. They forget quickly, eh?

The Protour is dead. Long live the Protour. :rolleyes:

Personally, I'm excited to see Basso coming back. While he made some poor personal choices, I still enjoy watching him race.

I think the 4 year pro tour team eligibility was something willfully imposed by all the teams. They forget quickly, eh?

Here's the suspension article

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/19062007/58/basso-ban-extended.html

I had always assumed that Basso would end up signing with an Italian Continental team to ensure his team a wildcard for the Giro and possibly the Tour. Since the GT organizers have broken with the ProTour and have unequivocally stated that they will invite the teams that they want, Basso actually is going to benefit from the confusion. The races left in the ProTour are some of the classics and smaller one day races - stuff that does not suit Basso. He will be able to race Tour of California, Paris Nice, the one week non-protour stage races in Spain during the classics month (except for maybe Tour of the Basque Country), the Giro, Dauphine Libere, the Tour, and the Vuelta. It will suit his program perfectly.

Anyone know how Basso can return to ProTour Liquigas? What happened to the 4 year ProTour ban? Is this a hint that teams don't expect the ProTour to exist next year?

LiquiGas has just quit AIGCP

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/26042008/58/liquigas-leave-aigcp.html

I had always assumed that Basso would end up signing with an Italian Continental team to ensure his team a wildcard for the Giro and possibly the Tour. Since the GT organizers have broken with the ProTour and have unequivocally stated that they will invite the teams that they want, Basso actually is going to benefit from the confusion. The races left in the ProTour are some of the classics and smaller one day races - stuff that does not suit Basso. He will be able to race Tour of California, Paris Nice, the one week non-protour stage races in Spain during the classics month (except for maybe Tour of the Basque Country), the Giro, Dauphine Libere, the Tour, and the Vuelta. It will suit his program perfectly.

Yea but the risk is that Liquigas might be barred from the big classics, and folks like Filipo Pozzato and Vicenzo Nibali will not be pleased.

Bold move on Liquigas' part. There may be consequences...

When asked about Liquigas signing the rider who finished second in the 2005 Tour de France, Prudhomme told Cyclingnews, "we are looking into it".

Daniele Bennati must be fuming. It's very possible he won't be able to race the Tour de France if this Basso moves ends up in Liguigas getting the Prudhomme boot.

So, what happens if Basso isn't on the racing roster? Will LiquiGas still get booted from the Giro & Tour just for hiring him???

Rund um den Henninger Turm doesn't seem to care whether or not Basso is participating in the race...

Team Liquigas has had its invitation to ride in Rund um den Henninger Turm revoked. The Italian team, which recently announced the signing of Ivan Basso (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/apr08/apr25news) for the coming season, told the race organiser that it would not sign the required Code of Ethics for the May 1 race.

Any suggestion that Basso's return will not be akin to Hamilton's, i.e. a dud?