UCI president Pat McQuaid says the sports governing body is considering putting a double circuit in place to try to resolve the ongoing conflict concerning the ProTour.

McQuaid's predecessor, Hein Verbruggen, introduced the ProTour in the autumn of 2004 to help modernize and better organize the often-hectic professional cycling calendar. But it met with resistance from race organizers — including the ASO (Amaury Sport Organization), whose portfolio of events includes the Tour de France — who believe the reforms were rushed in too quickly and without their input.

McQuaid, who took over from Verbruggen last September, insisted that they were ready to accommodate the organizers of the world's most prestigious race in order to bring some unity to cycling.

"If they so wish we will include the Tour de France and other events in a different international calendar, while the UCI on their side will continue to strive for its ProTour project," McQuaid said in Thursday's edition of the daily La Provence.

McQuaid said the system would not be in place for the 2006 season.

"There will obviously be a lot of work, a lot of thought to go into this double system. It will also be necessary to take several things into consideration, like selections for the world championships, the Olympic Games, the international points scale.

"It will need at least a year to put in place."

McQuaid brushed aside suggestions that the ASO had lost some of its power because of the ProTour.

"We have to convince the ASO of the ProTour's worth and that even with this circuit they will retain all their privileges. ASO believes that in the future the teams will be able to reclaim a percentage of the television rights. This again is a mistake because I'm convinced that this will not be necessary for the teams.

"To close the debate I would like to say that the position of the ASO, owner of the Tour, is indestructible. It will not be called into question. In any case the television rights will remain the property of the organizers."

But he said ASO president Patrice Clerc would also have to make an effort.

"If he (Clerc) calls me I will tell him that we will continue to try to find a good solution to include the Tour de France in the ProTour, but in any negotiations both sides have to evolve."