Garmin-Cervélo and Movistar missing from list along with the expected application from Geox-TMC
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has released the list of teams that are applying for ProTeam and Professional Continental licenses for the 2012 season, who submitted the necessary documentation by the October 1st deadline. Prospective ProTeams are required, according to UCI regulations, to submit their budget for the year, the contracts with the team’s sponsors, a bank guarantee, at least ten contracts with riders for the following year and, in the case of new teams, a description of the team’s structure.
The list of ProTeams is divided into two categories: those whose current license extends into 2012, and those seeking a new license or a renewal of an existing one. The former list contains the names of ten of the current eighteen ProTeams but noticeably missing is that of Movistar, whose license is set to last until 2013. The team fully intends to remain at the top of the sport though, where it has been since it was created as Reynolds in 1980, and has simply not completed the necessary paperwork in time.
VeloNation contacted Movistar's press officer David Garcia, who told us that: "The problem with the team's application has been just a matter of deadlines. We expect to present all documents needed to be a ProTeam in the upcoming hours."
Garmin-Cervélo, whose license also runs through 2012, seems to have missed the October 1st deadline as well. VeloNation contacted the team for comment and was told: “It’s a paperwork issue, nothing more.”
The list of new applications and renewals contains eight names; Katusha, Lotto (currently Omega Pharma-Lotto), Omega Pharma-Quick Step (currently Quick Step) and Saxo Bank-SunGard are all applying for their existing license to be renewed, while FDJ, GreenEDGE, Project 1t4i (currently Skil-Shimano) and Europcar are applying for new ones.
Conspicuously missing from this second list is Geox-TMC, the team of Vuelta a España winner Juan José Cobo; the team originally applied – and was turned down – for a 2011 license, and is expected to apply for the 2012 season.
Professional Continental list also has conspicuous absentees
The fourteen-strong list of teams that have applied for second-string Professional Continental status is also unusually light. There are currently twenty-three teams with ProConti status and, while four of those have applied to upgrade to ProTeam, there are still several expected names missing.
2011 teams missing from the 2012 applications list include Acqua & Sapone, Andalucia-Caja Granada, CCC Polsat-Polkowice, Colombia es Pasion-Café de Colombia and De Rosa-Ceramiche Flaminia. Some of these may well be dropping down to the lower Continental status, but many – particularly the Italian teams – are unlikely to.
Teams already possessing a WorldTour license for 2012
AG2R La Mondiale
Astana Pro Team
BMC Racing Team
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Lampre-ISD
Liquigas-Cannondale
Rabobank
RadioShack-Nissan (currently Leopard Trek)
Sky Procycling
Vacansoleil-DCM
Teams applying for a WorldTour license or the renewal of an existing license
FDJ
GreenEDGE Cycling Team (new team)
Katusha Team
Lotto Cycling Project (currently Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step (Currently Quick Step)
Project 1t4i (currently Skil-Shimano)
Saxo Bank-SunGard
Team Europcar
Professional Continental teams
Accent Jobs (currently Verandas Willems-Accent)
Androni Giocattoli
Bretagne-Schuller
Caja Rural
Cofidis, le credit en ligne
Colnago-CSF Inox
Farnese Vini
Landbouwkrediet
Saur-Sojasun
Spidertech powered by C10
Team NettApp
Team Type 1-Sanofi
Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team