"The following [16] teams are automatically qualified for the three Major Tours:
* the top clubs [Fasso Bortolo, Team Telekom, Rabobank, Mapei - Quick Step, Lotto - Adecco, iBanesto.com, Cofidis, ONCE - Eroski, US Postal, Domo - Farm Frites]
* Kelme
* Alessio
* Lampre - Daikin
* Tacconi Sport
* Team CSC Tiscali
* Euskaltel Euskadi"
www.uci.ch/english/news/n...a_comm.htm
Saeco was next in line.
Italy has 5 teams automatically qualified, France 1, and Spain 4. These countries have 9, 7, and 5 (if you include Portugal, jeje) division 1 teams, respectively. At most, 22 teams can be invited, leaving the GT organizers to select 6 wildcards + replacements for dropouts. All of which means Saeco and Team Coast are screwed for the TdF and will have to be satisfied with the peninsular GTs. For Saeco to squeak in, it would have to be the 22nd team in place of the division 1 BigMat Auber.93 team.
* the top clubs [Fasso Bortolo, Team Telekom, Rabobank, Mapei - Quick Step, Lotto - Adecco, iBanesto.com, Cofidis, ONCE - Eroski, US Postal, Domo - Farm Frites]
* Kelme
* Alessio
* Lampre - Daikin
* Tacconi Sport
* Team CSC Tiscali
* Euskaltel Euskadi"
www.uci.ch/english/news/n...a_comm.htm
Saeco was next in line.
Italy has 5 teams automatically qualified, France 1, and Spain 4. These countries have 9, 7, and 5 (if you include Portugal, jeje) division 1 teams, respectively. At most, 22 teams can be invited, leaving the GT organizers to select 6 wildcards + replacements for dropouts. All of which means Saeco and Team Coast are screwed for the TdF and will have to be satisfied with the peninsular GTs. For Saeco to squeak in, it would have to be the 22nd team in place of the division 1 BigMat Auber.93 team.
