New Vuelta-ProTour rift

ProTour executive committee coordinator Alan Rumpf told Vuelta director Victor Cordero in a letter that the race's three-week format could be cut and that the UCI was considering running both the Tour of Germany and the Vuelta in September.

"The three weeks of the Vuelta are under debate," Rumpf said in the letter, which was published in extracts of Tuesday's El Pais.

"The commission is considering modifications to the calendar for the 2009 season and you must be aware that these changes could be put forward by 2008."

"You know the interest the Tour of Germany has in running in September, like the Tour of Spain, which would in some way satisfy many teams who take part in the Tour of Poland afterwards."

In 2006 the Tour of Germany ran from August 1-9, the Tour of Poland September 4-10, and the Vuelta August 26 to September 17.

In the letter Rumpf said that some of the ProTour's 20 teams "had made it known that they wanted to be freed of the obligation of competing in the Vuelta."

Cordero promised that Vuelta organisers would resist any changes.

"It is not in the interests of the UCI to endanger the Vuelta. It's part of the heritage of cycling. The entire country follows it," Cordero said.

"We will follow the same line of conduct at the Tour and the Giro."