(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Etixx-QuickStep, who have had a dominating presence in the Tour of Qatar over the last few years, have not been invited to the 2016 edition of the race on disciplinary grounds.
Addressing a press conference, on the eve of the 15th edition of the tour, Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) president Sheikh Khalid bin Ali al-Thani spoke about snubbing the most successful team in the race's 15-year history, while also talking about the upgradation of the tour to the UCI World Pro Tour level.
"It's true. We did not send them an invitation. QuickStep is an important team, who have won a lot on the Tour but we noticed in the past couple of years that we had disciplinary issues with them," Sheikh Khalid said.
The Belgian team, who have won eight of the past 10 editions of the tour, were the most notable absentee when the list of invitees was announced. Niki Terpstra's win in 2015 was his second in as many years and Etixx-QuickStep's fourth in succession.
Sheikh Khalid mentioned a lack of respect for the requirements of live television coverage as the principle reason not to invite Etixx-QuickStep, complaining that the team's stage-winning riders were at times very late for podium ceremonies.
"We asked them not to do interviews (immediately after the finish) because we have limited time for the podium, we are live on air. But they take too much time to change their shoes," he said.
"In the Ladies Tour of Qatar, the cyclists don't even change their shoes. But QuickStep riders want to take a chair, change their shoes, lie down and after that do an interview. We warned them a couple of years ago not to do it but they still continue with it.
"Last year, we had to specially send a lady to hurry them up but they did not talk to her nicely, even waving her off. That is not good, you know.
"We told them they cannot do that and that's been the case for a couple of years. Last year wasn't the first time. And there were some problems in the hotel, disciplinary things.
"We could feel the attitude was there that they were too much relaxed."
However, Etixx-QuickStep sporting director Wilfried Peeters said the team was absent for sporting reasons, citing a desire to reduce travel by having the Classics in Spain and Portugal when the preliminary entry list was announced.
Legendary rider Eddy Merckx, who is a part of the organising committee for the Tour of Qatar, preferred not to offer his thoughts on Sheikh Khalid's criticism of Etixx-QuickStep as he said: "I cannot say more than that. He took the decision."
The president later added that Etixx-QuickStep were the only high-profile absentee not invited to the race, admitting that other teams, such as Fabian Cancellara's Trek-Segafredo, and Movistar, had been unable to fit the race into their crowded calendar.
"We invited all the other teams, they had their schedules and reasons not to come. QuickStep is just one case and we hope things will be better next year. It's not permanent. We respect the team and all the riders, they've won a lot here," Sheikh Khalid said.
"But things must be corrected."
The Tour of Qatar organisers have also applied with the UCI to upgrade the race to the World Pro Tour level, which requires all 18 World Tour teams to participate.
"We are the oldest tour in the region and we are hopeful of getting the upgradation next year," he said.
Pro Tour events don't have any restriction on the number of pro teams and there will also be ranking points at stake.
Launched in 2002, the race was the first major cycling event in the Middle East, and paved the way for other events, such as the Tour of Oman, the Dubai Tour, and the Abu Dhabi Tour.
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