TOUR de France organizers will pull cycling’s most illustrious race from the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) World Tour calendar in 2017 amid disagreements over planned reforms.

    Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) made the threat Friday that would see its events — that include the Tour, the Vuelta a Espana, Paris-Nice, and the Liege-Bastogne-Liege — run on the Hors Classe calendar, one step below the World Tour.

    The World Tour reforms would see teams and races awarded three-year licences, which would create a more closed system, with new events being considered for an enlarged calendar.

    ASO rejected the previous proposals in July of this year, concerned the changes would weaken its position as the biggest race organizer.

    It prefers a system aimed at reducing the number of WorldTour races, while introducing a form of relegation and promotion to the elite level of cycling.

    “Amaury Sport Organization has informed this day Union Cycliste Internationale it has opted for the registration of its events on the Hors Classe (HC) calendar for season 2017,” ASO said in a statement read.

    (SD-Agencies)