An AP story in today's paper says the head of the TDF will stop working with UCI head, Pat McQuaid. The implication is the TDF will set up their own governing body "with special rules for the TDF" (Quote Christian Prudhomme of the TDF) and no longer abide by UCI decisions. So my question,
Is this a bid to replace McQuaid with a French bloke?
Fingerpointing to deflect failures by the TDF officials?
A bid for more power by one controlling group?
A sincere attempt to replace a group that has not been effective in controlling the doping problems?

OK, forgive my newness to the in-fighting for control of the TDF, but as a former open wheel racer (auto) fan, I've seen these splits cause more problems than they solve and destroy the sport rather than advancing it. But I'm too new to this dispute to know what's really going on. So would the more knowledgable BF members please weigh in on this issue.

The UCI is made up of old retired racers (dopers), and it is the cyclists union, so yes, they are not as effective in controlling the doping. Back in the 80's and 90's they had team doctors doing double duty... being both team doctors, and running the doping controls.

Remember Tony George telling CART to take a hike? Who won that one? That's right, the guy that controls the event that people want to see. I'm on the side of ASO in this one, even if they are mostly French. ;)

Vive le Tour!

Remember Tony George telling CART to take a hike? Who won that one?

yea, NO ONE won that. American open wheel racing went through a dramatic decline and has never recovered. Now the INDY car series can barely fill 1/20th of the stands at the tracks they race at. Even the INDY 500 has continued to see ticket and viewership decline.

So if you are wondering who will "win" if the UCI and the ASO decide to go to war, I can assure you that we as fans will be the ones who lose.

yea, NO ONE won that. American open wheel racing went through a dramatic decline and has never recovered. Now the INDY car series can barely fill 1/20th of the stands at the tracks they race at. Even the INDY 500 has continued to see ticket and viewership decline.

So if you are wondering who will "win" if the UCI and the ASO decide to go to war, I can assure you that we as fans will be the ones who lose.

My point exactly!
Fans, myself included, became disgusted with the petty bickering, backstabbing and open wheel car owners and race track owners putting themselves before the fans. Many of us became NASCAR fans.
I fear the lessons that should have been learned from this event are lost on those who rule cycling.