ASO still owes Dutch Cycling €140,000 for hosting Tour de France, reports say
KNWU has filed an arbitration case with the UCI against Tour de France organisers ASO over a reported unpaid €140,000 debt
It's been nearly four months since Utrecht hosted the Tour de France Grand Depart, but race organiser ASO is yet to pay its bill to the Dutch Cycling Federation, according to reports.
ASO reportedly owes the KNWU €140,000 - the basic amount quoted in the federation's rules for anyone who wishes to organise a race in the country.
KNWU has filed an arbitration case to the UCI against the ASO, with a decision expected later this month.
Highlights of stage one of the 2015 Tour de France
“For the ASO this amount is child’s play, but for us it’s serious money and that’s why we are not just letting it slide,”KNWU director Huib Kloosterhuis said to NU, quoted in NL Times. He added that it is “absolutely impossible” to make arrangements with ASO.
The Netherlands also hosts the Big Start of the 2016 Giro d'Italia, with three stages taking place around Apeldoorn, Arnhem and Nijmegen in May.
The country hosted two stages of the Tour de France this year, including the opening time trial in Utrecht, won by Rohan Dennis, and the sprint stage to Zeeland, won by Andre Greipel.
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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.