Aqua Blue riders in struggle for salary

UCI now in control of releasing rider payments via bank guarantees

The collapse of the Aqua Blue team took another twist over the weekend as riders hit out at delays in salary payments. Andy Fenn posted an open letter on social media to former team owner Rick Delaney complaining that their October salaries had yet to arrive.

One source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Cycling Weekly: “To be honest it’s been a pain ever since the team stopped; nothing has been straightforward at all. The whole salary thing is something we signed and agreed at the start of the year and is a contractual agreement, not something that you stop and that’s the end of it.”

Rather than the team paying the remainder of the contracts direct to the riders and staff, the riders are now required to apply to the UCI for their salary from the money it holds to give staff a backstop against just such a situation as this.

“None of us knew anything about it,” said the source. “We thought we were going to be paid as normal for the rest of the year then September came and went with nothing and we did a little bit of digging. We now have to fill out a form that then goes by the team that then goes on to the UCI, so it just seems to be delay after delay.”

They added that they suspected the delay might be related to an ongoing dispute over funds the team may owe the UCI.

They said: “I do believe we will get the money, but the way it has to go with the bank guarantee with the UCI just makes life very difficult for everybody.” Hammond’s back

On the domestic scene, Madison-genesis have confirmed that Roger Hammond will return to the team he left to join Mark Cavendish at Dimension Data in 2016, as directeur

“It has been a pain ever since the team stopped”

sportif next year.

“Back in 2012 when I was presented with the idea of the team, it immediately captured my imagination and has remained a project close to my heart ever since,” Hammond said. “I have kept a close eye on the team with immense pride over the last few years and cannot wait to get back involved and continue to build on the team’s fantastic reputation.”

While Madison has cause to celebrate this week, CW has received confirmation that Holdsworth Pro Cycling will definitely not be returning in 2019.