Fly V Australia

[JV911]

Fly V Australia sets course toward ProTour in 2011

The makeup of ProTour nations appears set to shift again this fall as Continental team Fly V Australia is on the verge of attaining top-level registration for 2011. According to a report in The Australian, the team has been extended an August 31 deadline for submitting its registration with the UCI.

“It is believed (team owner Chris) White is about 10 days away from officially naming the consortium of backers, both offshore and domestic, to secure a ProTour license following extensive talks with the Union Cycliste Internationale in Switzerland,” said the report.

Director Henk Vogels confirmed to VeloNews that the announcement was imminent. The former European pro also confirmed that the team is in final negotiations with a new title sponsor and that the team’s budget should more than double for 2011. According to Vogels, V Australia Airlines will remain as a secondary sponsor.

In the report, White said that “the world of cycling has been talking about establishing an Australian ProTour team for a number of years and now it’s just about to happen. Fly V will be well funded and resourced and we will want to compete at the highest level and that includes the Tour de France next July.”

White is en route to the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in the western U.S. this week. Vogels indicated that the trip is related to sponsor negotiations. The team is a favorite in the GC, with former Barloworld rider and 2009 runner-up Darren Lill, VeloNews 2009 Domestic Climber of the Year Phil Zajicek and team leader Ben Day.

The Fly V Australia roster this year includes riders with European pedigrees, including Day, Lill and Aaron Kemps. The prestige and increased budget that come with ProTour registration would put White on track to sign more European-based Aussies in the off-season. A number of Australian professionals, including Garmin-Transitions’ Cameron Meyer, have told VeloNews that a national team at the top level of the sport, akin to Team Sky in Great Britain, would be a very attractive proposition.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who could ride in the ProTour, but up to now there hasn’t been an Australian team for them to aspire to,” White said in The Australian report. “Cadel Evans, Michael Rogers, Mark Renshaw, Simon Gerrans, Stuey O’Grady, Richie Porte and Wes Sulzberger currently ride for either American, French, British or Danish teams.”

According to the report, the team will be based in Belgium. “While the ProTour license isn’t a fait accompli, I’m confident that given road cycling’s global reach, the time is now right to establish a ProTour team to race in Europe and at the Tour de France next year,” said White.

[whitey]

Exciting stuff, would be great to have a Oz team in Le Tour.

[Baldy]

Awesome!! Ive got everything crossed....

Thanks for the heads up JV

[Fletcher]

This is cool

[Chuck]

This is cool

Agree, a whole team to shout out for at the Tour would be great

[shiv]

Just gotta hope that with all the new teams popping up, and Pro Continental teams pushing for higher status, that there is a licence available for our boys. The UCI may have to think about increasing the number of licenses available if things keep going this way.

[MichaelB]

Keeping the fingers crossed for it to succeed, as they have had some great performances from the local lads like Day & Cantwell to name just 2

[shiv]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/14-team ... our-places

Its gonna be a squeeze to make it in!

[Jean]

Good luck to 'em, but I don't fancy their chances. They've done well in the US, but that's the US, and unless they have some new signings I don't know if their roster will necessarily impress enough to overcome a range of strong Euro/US contenders.

But, as if I'd really know

[Chuck]

Good luck to 'em, but I don't fancy their chances. They've done well in the US, but that's the US, and unless they have some new signings I don't know if their roster will necessarily impress enough to overcome a range of strong Euro/US contenders.

But, as if I'd really know

Your opinion is just as valid as anybody elses and you may well be right

[Chuck]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/austral ... nd-hushovd

The kind of signings required, may be hard convincing them though.

[Fletcher]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/australian-protour-team-targets-haussler-lancaster-and-hushovd

The kind of signings required, may be hard convincing them though.

Inching closer. The demise of Cervelo Test Team could help some.

[HAKS]

McEwen signs with V Australia/Pegasus Sports team

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mcewen- ... super-team

[MichaelB]

McEwen signs with V Australia/Pegasus Sports team

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mcewen- ... super-team

Yee hah. Wonder who else is joining !!!

[redcorpsjames]

Matty Rogers??

[MichaelB]

Svein Tuft is moving from GT to Fly V - seems to be a common move these days - leave a PT squad to join a Pro Conti (are Fly V even Pro Conti ?) squad and get most of the benefits.

[philip]

Cancellara high on wish-list for Pegasus's bespoke team of stars

"Wish-list" indeed!

[im_no_pro]

Cancellara high on wish-list for Pegasus's bespoke team of stars

"Wish-list" indeed!

[HAKS]

So on the news tonight the guy (White?) behind Pegasus Sports said they are making a big announcement re: signing (AT) the world champs. Any bets? I'm putting my $ on Mick Rogers

[Dial]

It's an old league adage "Welcome to first grade son"
Show respect, spend a lot of money and show respect. If Fly V can do that they can even win the TDF, given time.

[Aushiker]

Hi

SBS Cycling Central interview with Chris White on a UCI Pro Licence.

Andrew

[philip]

Hmmm.. something is wrong:

UCI publish 20 teams seeking ProTeam licences in 2011

It is as yet unclear as to the reasons for Astana and Team Pegasus’ absence from the list. The Australian team has yet to announce a title sponsor for 2011.

Robbie McEwen assured Cyclingnews that the team did submit its application for a ProTour licence on time.

“It must be a mistake because I know the team applied for a ProTour licence. Some one accompanied the whole application dossier from Brisbane to Switzerland last week,” he said.

[im_no_pro]

They have been told it was due to incomplete appilcation there is an article on cycling news about it earlier, would post it but im on phone atm.

[soc]

More from Chris White - Pegasus in ProTour: Application encountered a glitch

EDIT: - this is the article Im No Pro is referring to above.

[im_no_pro]

More from Chris White - Pegasus in ProTour: Application encountered a glitch

EDIT: - this is the article Im No Pro is referring to above.

Yup, thats it. Ta much.