Cyclists riding in the Tour de France will not risk being barred from the Beijing Olympics, despite a feud between race organizers and the sport's governing body.

"It's in our capacity but it's not in our heart to sanction athletes that have prepared for years for an Olympic Games," International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid said.

The UCI is in dispute with Tour organizer ASO, which confirmed on Tuesday it will stage the July 5-27 race under French national federation authority, ignoring the governing body's rules and doping controls. The UCI, which runs the Olympic cycling program, responded with a warning that "riders and teams will, by participating, expose themselves to sanctions."

But McQuaid said cyclists selected by their country for Beijing would not be victimized.

"No matter how grave the situation might be, or how disloyal we feel the French federation has been to the UCI, I don't see the Olympic Games being touched."

The long-running dispute flared up before the Paris-Nice stage race in March when the UCI first urged teams and riders to boycott the ASO-organized event, then warned it could fine and suspend those taking part.

British riders Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, who are among the favorites in the Madison class at Beijing, opted out of Paris-Nice saying they wanted to protect their Olympic eligibility.

The race went ahead and McQuaid later initiated disciplinary action against Jean Pitallier, the French federation president who said on Tuesday he could see no end to the conflict.

Lawyers for the two sides met in Geneva last month and the UCI's next step will be decided at a meeting of the 19-member management board in Copenhagen, Denmark, next week.

"Nothing is beyond repair," said McQuaid, who will not take part in the board's discussion or decision. "But what we cannot have is one set of rules for France and one set for the rest of the world.

"I don't think there will be any big dramas between now and the Tour de France.

"Beijing will take place and it will be a wonderful event for cycling and the UCI as well, I hope."

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily June 6, 2008)