Australian ProTour team bid

Cycling Australia (CA) and Federal Minister for Sport Kate Ellis have given their backing to a Melbourne-based cycling groupâs plans to create a ProTour team, competing in the Tour de France, by 2010.
Australian Road Cycling (ARC), a business headed by three cycling fans, is aiming to get top Australian cyclists on board. ARC want the 25 to 28 member team to be 90% Australian.
Minister Ellis and CA Chief Executive Graham Fredericks attended ARCâs recent launch o of a domestic squad of junior riders, chosen by national junior cycling coach Dave Sanders.
Melbourneâs Herald Sun newspaper quoted Fredericks as saying that the project would be a significant challenge in the financial climate, but that he was confident ARC âhad the capacity to do it�?. He also said that CA would do its bit to bring about the shared vision of flying the Australian flag in the Tour de France.
ARC is now looking for major sponsors to contribute to the estimated $16 to $25 million annual cost of running the team.