The 2008 UCI ProTour is the fourth year of the UCI ProTour system. As was the case before and during 2007 season, the organisers of the Grand Tours (ASO, RCS and Unipublic) are at odds with the UCI. Image File history File links Soccerball_current_event. ... Sport from childhood. ... Womens Australian rules football is a team sport. ... Entrance of UCI headquarter at Aigle (Switzerland) Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is a professional cycling union that oversees cycling events in the international community. ... The UCI ProTour is a competition under the International Cycling Union (UCI). ... The 2007 UCI ProTour is the third year of the UCI ProTour system. ... In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races: Tour de France - Tour of France Giro dItalia - Tour of Italy Vuelta a España - Tour of Spain Collectively they are termed the Grand Tours, and all three are similar...

A season of firsts

For the first time in history, the elite men's season will start in South Australia with the Tour Down Under^[1], thus becoming the first event held outside Europe on the UCI ProTour. Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... The Tour Down Under is a cycling race held in Adelaide, South Australia, and the surrounding area. ...

In addition, the 2008 campaign may be without a team from the United States with the folding of the highly successful Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team at the end of the 2007 season. The loss of the Discovery Channel team has caused a shuffle amongst riders and managers alike. Johan Bruyneel signed on to become the directeur sportif and revamp the embattled Astana Team; joining him are 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador and 2007 Tour of California champion Levi Leipheimer. Other major signings include American George Hincapie moving to T-Mobile Team. Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team (UCI Team Code: DSC) is a US-based professional road bicycle racing team. ... Johan Bruyneel is the director of Team Discovery, a US-based pro cycling team. ... A directeur sportif is a person who is responsible for the operation of a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event. ... The Astana Team (UCI Team Code: AST), is a professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by the Astana group, a coalition of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan – including Air Astana – named after its capital. ... Stages in 2007 The 2007 Tour de France is the 94th Tour de France, taking place from July 7 to July 29, 2007. ... Alberto Contador Velasco (born 6 December 1982 in Madrid, Spain) is a professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team and winner of the 2007 Tour de France. ... The Amgen Tour of California 2007 is the second edition of an eight-day, 650-mile stage race that races through the California redwoods, wine country and the Pacific Coast. ... Levi Leipheimer (born October 24, 1973 in Butte, Montana) is an American professional bicyclist who rides with the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. ... George Hincapie (born June 28, 1973 in Queens, New York City) is an American professional road bicycle racer residing in Greenville, South Carolina. ... Presentation of the 2006 team in Mallorca. ...

2008 UCI ProTour races

The General Classification (or GC) in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races. ... The Points Classification is an award category in road bicycle racing that recognizes the most consistent finisher in a stage race. ... The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year (99th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 154th day of the year (155th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2008 Tour de France is the 95th Tour de France, taking place from July 5 to July 27, 2008. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ...

Teams

While not finalised as of October 23, 2007, the following teams are projected to be part of the 2008 UCI ProTour season.

AG2R Prévoyance (UCI Team Code: A2R) are a French cycling team which did not take part in the inaugural UCI ProTour 2005, having to make do with being invited to compete in French races, such as Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix or the Tour de France. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Astana Team (UCI Team Code: AST), is a professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by the Astana group, a coalition of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan – including Air Astana – named after its capital. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Bouygues Télécom (UCI Team Code: BTL) is a professional road bicycle racing team that competes on the UCI ProTour. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Illes Balears team car, with Pinarello Opera bikes on top, with Campagnolo parts. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Cofidis is a French professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by the insurance company Cofidis. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Crédit Agricole is the main sponsor of a French professional cycling team managed by Roger Legeay. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Riders from Team CSC in Danmark Rundt, August 2006. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Predictor-Lotto (formerly Davitamon-Lotto for 2005-2006) (UCI Team Code: DVL) is a Belgian professional cycling team sponsored by the Belgian lottery and Predictor, previously Davitamon (both products of pharmaceutical company Omega Pharma). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Euskaltel-Euskadi is a professional road bicycle racing team. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... La Française des Jeux is a French cycling team, sponsored by a French company that sells gambling games. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Rund um den Henninger-Turm (2005) Team Gerolsteiner (UCI Team Code: GST) is a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Lampre-Fondital is an Italian road bicycle racing team competing in the UCI ProTour in 2006. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Team Liquigas (UCI Team Code: LIQ) is an Italian professional road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Team Milram is a professional cycling team participating in the 2006 edition of the UCI ProTour race series, taking over the ProTour licens of the Domina Vacanze team. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... “Quick Step” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... The Rabobank team during the 2005 Rund um den Henninger Turm race. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Saunier Duval-Prodir rider David Millar preparing for stage 11 of the 2006 Tour de France Saunier Duval-Prodir Team (UCI Team Code: SDV) is a Spanish road bicycle racing team, located in Cantabria, which is part of the UCI ProTour. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Presentation of the 2006 team in Mallorca. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... MrBookmaker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ...

Individual standings

Australian Cadel Evans returns to defend his 2007 UCI ProTour champion jersey. Cadel Evans (born 14 February 1977, in Katherine, Northern Territory) is an Australian professional cyclist. ...

Team standings

Team CSC returns and seeks to win a fourth consecutive team championship during 2008 UCI ProTour. Riders from Team CSC in Danmark Rundt, August 2006. ...

Nation standings

Italy seeks to defend its top national ranking from the 2007 UCI ProTour season.

2008 ProTour Points System

Based on the 2007 UCI ProTour, the following table is a projection of the 2008 UCI ProTour points system used for rankings of the individual, team and nation point standings.

• If a rider is not part of UCI ProTour, no points are given. The points corresponding to the place are not awarded
• Top 20 teams get points in scale 20-19-18...1.
• Team time trials in stage races doesn't give points for riders.
• In Eindhoven time trial rider has to finish to earn points.
• In country ranking, top 5 riders of each country count towards the ranking.

The UCI ProTour is a competition under the International Cycling Union (UCI). ...

References

External links

• Official Website