2007 Tour De France winner Alberto Contador and his new team Astana has been shunned by RCS Sport.

The organizers of the Giro d’Italia have chosen not to invite the strongest cycling team in the world to this years Giro. 21 teams of 9 men will take part in the Italian Grand Tour. Absent from this years invitees are Astana (with Andreas Klöden and Alberto Contador), High Road (Marco Pinotti) , Acqua & Sapone (Stefano Garzelli and Luca Paolini), Bouygues Telecom and Crédit Agricole.

Between now and the Giro teams should be on their best behavior because RCS Sport stated in its press release that they have the “right to withdraw the invite at any moment.” Nice subtle warning there.

Here is a list of teams invited to the 91st Giro d’Italia are Ag2r-La Mondiale, Barloworld, Caisse d’Epargne, Cofidis, CSF Group Navigare, Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Française des Jeux, Gerolsteiner, Lampre, Liquigas, LPR Brakes, NGC Medical-OTC Industria Porte, Quick Step, Rabobank, Saunier Duval-Scott, Silence-Lotto, Slipstream Chipotle - H30, Team CSC, Team Milram and Tinkoff Credit.