How’s this for a kick in the teeth? You’ve been invited to compete at a Pro Tour event – a pretty big deal for a UCI Continental Tour team – you’ve trained exclusively over the course, you’ve knocked back an invitation to another Tour because it clashes. Then, 3 days before the race, your team’s invitation is revoked because the required paperwork hasn’t been filled out.

Such is the situation of the Continental Tour team Elk Haus Simplon who no longer need concern themselves over how they are going to climb Rettenbachferner. The organisers of the Deutschland Tour (Tour of Germany) have rescinded the invitation to compete. Understandably the riders are gutted and the exclamations of outrage from team management have begun, followed closely by threats of a lawsuit.

You sympathise, of course, but then, 22 teams managed to comply with the documentation requirement. What went wrong at Elk Haus Simplon? We’ve all seen what can happen if one neglects one's paperwork…