International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid has said that it's time to increase the requirements for teams to attain ProTour status. In an interview with WielerRevue, the Irishman cited the Footon-Lotto-Servetto and Lampre-Farnese Vini teams as having issues, and admitted that a team is likely to get bumped from the sport's highest level next year with the possible birth of a new Australian team.
"We are becoming increasingly demanding in our assessment of the ProTour teams," he explained to WielerRevue, "Some are not at the level they should be." He mentioned the fact that "Lampre is under pressure", referring to the team's looming deadline of March 31 to bring its finances in order. The UCI granted the team a temporary license that stands to be revoked at the end of March if they don't satisfy the UCI requirements.
"Next year we will make a decision on which teams no longer belong in the ProTour. This is no idle threat," he warned, offering the downgrade of French teams Cofidis and Bbox Bouygues Telecom to Pro Continental teams as evidence.
While he acknowledged that the situation with the French teams isn't necessarily permanent, he also made it clear that there will be no more favors in the future.