Aussie Team Looking Positive for Tour de France 2011
According to The Weekend Australian (‘Australian Road Team Likely for Tour de France’, Jan 24 2010), an Australian-based cycling team could be in the 2011 Tour de France.
A team at the top level is the Holy Grail of Australian cycling, which has enjoyed a stunning boom in popularity and strength over the past three decades.
Team 2XU/Aussie Crates’ bid reached a key milestone in Adelaide on the weekend when one of its directors, Victor Barichello, met McQuaid.
“The meeting was to update the UCI on ARC’s progress and to discuss the application process for a ProTour licence,” said Barichello of Team 2XU/Aussie Crates.
“We’re working through the process of formalising a bid for an Australian ProTour licence. At this stage our intention is to lodge an application by the June deadline in order to secure a ProTour licence for 2011.
“The bid will see an Australian team compete at the highest levels of professional road cycling and has been the focus of ARC for 2 1/2 years.”
Barichello said the meeting went extremely well.
