Pro Tour teams contracts state that they can't compete in the national calendar events. Although apparently 4 of the teams have said they are riding come what may, I'm guessing French teams.
I think ASO and co are taking the piss, whatever the ProTour problems, and there are quite a few, they need to talk to come to a solution, both sidea are just acting like petulant kids. The teams should stand with the UCI as they signed their contracts so they should honour them.
What must the sponsors think?
I think the UCI cocked up with the 2 new licence awards. The big 3 organisers wanted the ProTour reduced to 18 teams so the UCI could just have not awarded any new licences and kept them happy. 20 is too many anyway as the standard of some of the lesser teams is way below what some of the wildcards are.