All teams are to leave the International Cycling Union's elite ProTour series, the 17 teams on the Tour de France announced Tuesday.

"It has been decided unanimously not to renew the ProTour licences for the 2009 season," the teams said in a joint statement.

The ProTour, which started in 2005 under the jurisdiction of the UCI, guaranteed the top teams a place in the leading races.

The Astana team, which was not invited on the Tour de France, is set to join the move.

"If everybody decides so, I can't imagine Astana will not follow," Astana chief press officer Philippe Maertens said.

The pack of riders cycles past sunflowers during the ninth stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres de Bigorre, July 13, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Pat McQuaid, president of the UCI, the sport's governing body, said the dissidents were facing exclusion from the international federation.

"We'll deal with that according to the regulations. They face exclusion from the international federation," McQuaid said. "It is something we are going to discuss."

Meanwhile, a day after his failure in the Pyrenees, Alejandro Valverde said the Alps could reinstate him as a top contender of the Tour de France. The Spaniard lost ground on the first ascent of the 10th stage on Monday and dropped to 14th overall four minutes and 41 seconds adrift of race leader Cadel Evans of Australia.

"Today is more complicated than before but the hardest part (of the race) has yet to come," Valverde said.

"There are three very tough stages in the Alps where you can lose five to 10 minutes.

"Yesterday I suffered in the first part of the stage in the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet and then I feel I was better in the (final) climb to Hautacam.

"So I think I could gain some time in the Alps," the Spanish champion added.

"I have the will to fight. Now I want to forget about yesterday and rest."

Caisse d'Epargne teammate Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour champion, said: "Yesterday I did not want to talk because I was too disappointed. But now, this morning, the state of mind is different.

"We're going to fight."

Team manager Eusebio Unzue conceded hopes had been dented but felt everything was possible. "Hautacam was the first important face-to-face between the top contenders and we had a bad moment," said Unzue. "Now we must get our feet back on the ground. The top guns will be on their own."

The three Alpine days start on Sunday, the 15th stage.

Luxembourg's Frank Schleck hopes to take time out of Evans with some forceful rides in the Alps.

"It means I will have to attack at least twice," he said.

Schleck's strong CSC team will be all out to shake up Evans and he can look to Spain's Carlos Sastre, still a contender for victory in Paris, and younger brother Andy Schleck, although the latter's hopes took a big blow in Monday's fearsome ascent to Hautacam.

"I know that I am in good form even if I had a bad day yesterday," said Andy Schleck.

Sastre, sixth overall at 1:28, told reporters "We are two leaders. If Frank feels that he can top the bill again in the Alps, I'll be 100 percent with him. If not..."

(Agencies?via?Shanghai Daily July 16, 2008)