Teams deny decision

Reuters initially reported that the three teams and three French teams would participate in the 'Race to the Sun' despite an International Cycling Union statement that ProTeams are not allowed to race in what was meant to be the opening contest on the season's calendar.

But the three teams have since come out in mixed support of the UCI boycott, which is being undertaken because of a dispute over the failure of Paris-Nice organisers to invite all 20 Pro teams after Unibet.com was excluded from this year's race.

"This release (...) is not true as far as the Rabobank Cycling Team is concerned," team spokesman Jacob Bergsma told the Cyclingnews.

"Rabobank is 100 percent behind the UCI, and we don't agree with ASO. I believe most ProTour teams are behind the UCI," team director Erik Breukink added.

Both Gerolsteiner and T-Mobile have indicated that they will wait until a meeting of the IPCT Pro team group on March 2 to determine whether or not they will uphold the ban.

"We want to work with all parties toward a fair resolution. It is essential that the events, teams, athletes and governing bodies of the sport work together to improve and grow the sport," said team manager Bob Stapleton on T-Mobile's official website.