Cycling Weekly international news logo
Team Sky has not been invited to this year's Montepaschi Strade Bianche one-day race in Italy.
The British team learnt they had been left off the start list by organisers RCS when they read the news on the internet.
Fourteen teams were named, only half of which are World Tour teams. Five of the other teams invited are from Italy, while American Professional Continental Team Type 1 got an invite as did Geox-TMC.
Team Sky were surprised by their omission as Thomas Lövkvist won in 2009 and was second last year. Astana has also been left off the start list after Maxim Iglinskiy won last year.
Other teams missing out include Katusha, Quick Step, Rabobank and Saxo Bank.
The 190km race is ranked 1.1 on the European Tour, but in it's five-year history has became an instant classic and is ridden by the worlds best teams. It takes place on March fifth.
Reader comments
Add your comments
Nigel
January 21 01:27
"Ridden by the world's best teams"?? Not this year it seems! You get used to the odd strange team selection from race organisers - bound to happen - but this is bizarre! The winners of the last 2 editions (and 2/3rds of last year's podium at least) not invited, teams with top riders for this kind of tough event not invited (Quickstep, Saxo Bank, Rabobank, Katusha) - what on earth is going on??
tony
January 21 09:42
No Surprise here, the italians have a history of disliking foreigners who win their races
Brendan Power
January 21 10:36
Not really surprising. No Italian winners when all the top teams are there so, gradually get rid of the top teams until there are only Italians riding and that way you get an Italian winner.
Marky
January 21 13:17
They obviously want an Italian winner... simple as!