June 28, 2006 – On its part, the UCI reaffirms its complete availability to collaborate with Spanish authorities on the basis of regular contacts established with responsible people in charge of the current investigation.

Moreover, three days from the start of the Tour de France, the UCI President, Mr. Pat McQuaid, has strongly recommended the UCI ProTour teams, to ask riders who are due to start on Saturday in Starsbourg, to sign a written statement certifying that they are not involved in this case (with a clause that if their statement proves to be incorrect, they would immediately leave the team and pay a substantial indemnity.

Riders who would refuse to provide such statement, must be replaced.

Should convincing official information be provided to the UCI during the Tour it will request the immediate withdrawal of any rider implicated and that he remain inactive until the disciplinary process is completed.