'We are closely monitoring professional cycling' – Could former Tour de France sponsor Nike make a comeback to the sport?

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 24: Green Jersey winner Mark Cavendish (L) of team HTC celebrates on the podium with yellow jersey winner Cadel Evans of team BMC after the twenty first and final stage of Le Tour de France 2011, from Creteil to the Champs-Elysees in Paris on July 24, 2011 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images).

The biggest sports clothing brand in the world, Nike, hasn't been a major player in professional cycling in well over a decade, but could the American company be making a comeback?

Nike was formerly the sponsor of the US Postal and RadioShack teams as well as the personal sponsor of former rider Lance Armstrong. The famous Nike swoosh also adorned leaders' jerseys at the Tour de France from 1996 to 2011.