UCI to punish teams who take part in Paris-Nice

International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid has threatened to punish teams that decide to take part in this month's Paris-Nice race, French sports daily L'Equipe reported yesterday.

"If you decide, against the rules, to take part in Paris-Nice, you will be heavily penalised," McQuaid said in a letter sent to four French teams - AG2R, Francaise des Jeux, Cofidis and Bouygues Telecom.

The week-long race, which starts on March 11, was dropped from the UCI's Pro-Tour following a dispute with organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). Rabobank, T-Mobile, Gerolsteiner and France's Cofidis, Bouygues Telecom and Francaise des Jeux said last Friday they would defy the sport's governing body and compete in the race.

The UCI wrote to all 20 teams on its Pro-Tour, telling them it no longer recognised the race and ordering them not to enter.

The dispute dates back to January when the ASO, who also organise the Tour de France, turned down the application of Swedish team Unibet.com, a member of the Pro-Tour's elite.