As reported two days ago Discovery Channel Johan Bruyneel was not satisfied with the way AIGCP handled problems. Bruyneel said he never ever experienced that the AIGCP solved a problem.

Yesterday Discovery Channel team manager Johan Bruyneel said in a statement on the Discovery Channel team website: "I no longer feel confident that this group can lead our sport and represent our Team in a positive manner. It became clear at our most recent meeting that the goals and objectives among the teams are very different and I do not want to continue to be a part of such contentious and unprofessional meetings."

Membership in the AIGCP is not mandatory for competing at the sports highest level, the UCI Pro Tour, or in races like the Tour de France. Team Discovery is not the first to remove itself from this group.

Bruyneel commented further, “We need to become a unified group for our sport to reach a higher level but everyone is not willing to do that and AIGCP President Patrick Lefevere is not to blame. He has shown great leadership and insight while presiding over this group, however, the same cannot be said of all members.”

The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team is currently racing a full Pro Tour schedule and will field a full nine-man Team at the start of the Tour de France on July 7th in London, England.

“The sport of cycling needs a leadership voice right now and we do not feel that participation in the AIGCP can provide us with that direction,” stated Team General Manager Bill Stapleton. “Our Team will continue to support the UCI Pro Tour system and be an active partner in the IPCT (International Professional Cycling Team’s) group, but we will no longer associate ourselves with a group that cannot unify in an effort to lead the sport in a positive direction.”