By overlooking the likes of former champion Marco Pantani and twice runner-up Alex Zuelle for wild card entries, Tour de France organisers this week sent out another message about cycling's desire to change its image. Two of the remaining wildcard positions were given to French teams ahead of teams such as Saeco, Mercury Viatel and Mercatone Uno.

That meant no place for the 31-year-old Pantani (left), the 1998 champion Zuelle, and the 34year-old Mario Cipollini, who has 12 stage victories. Age wasn't the only concern. Sponsors this year threatened to pull out because of drug-taking allegations that have plagued cycling since the 1998 race. Pantani was more than a little upset on hearing his Mercatone squad was not chosen. "My exclusion and that of Mario Cipollini represent the death of the Tour," he said. "It's incredible to think we've been excluded . . . there are no stars on the starting list." Not sure what Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong would make of Pantani's claim that he and Cippolini were the only stars, but it'll definitely be a less colourful tour without the two hot-headed and high-speed Italians.