RadioShack and Vacansoleil DCM miss out, are amongst those called before UCI Licence commission
Although the first fifteen teams eligible for a UCI ProTeam licence were named last week, just eight of those have progressed to the next level at this point in time, securing places in cycling’s top level in 2012.
The UCI has confirmed the identities of those getting a green light for registration, with Astana Pro Team (Kazakstan), BMC Racing Team (USA), Garmin-Cervélo (USA), Lampre – ISD (ITA), Liquigas – Cannondale (ITA), Movistar Team (ESP), Rabobank (NED) and Sky Procycling (GBR) all continuing at the level they raced at this year.
The remaining teams must appear before the UCI Licence Commission this month. The UCI explained the procedure in a release issued several minutes ago. “It should be noted that to date, only first division teams with continuing licences which meet the required sporting, ethical, financial and administrative criteria as well as teams seeking to be registered in the second division which have provided files considered to be in compliance, in accordance with ethical, financial and administrative criteria, have been registered by the UCI.
“The new teams (GreenEdge Cycling Team, Lotto Cycling Project) along with the ProTeams which have asked for a licence renewal (Saxo Bank Sungard, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team, Katusha Team), as well as teams from the second division (Geox – TMC, FDJ, Team Europcar) and also those which are ranked between 16th and 20th in the ranking of sporting values (AG2R La Mondiale, Euskaltel – Euskadi) will automatically be called before the Licence Commission.”
Notably, two squads with ongoing ProTeam licences have also been summoned. Rather than joining the initial eight named today, as might have been expected, they must present their case to the Licence Commission. The squads concerned as the Vacansoleil-DCM and RadioShack Nissan teams who, according to the UCI, will be examined in accordance with article 2.15.071 of the regulations.
Essentially, it means that their candidature has been declined at this point in time, although it could be approved after the hearing takes place. No reason was given for their inability to go forward.
The RadioShack Nissan team has undergone a clear change, with the former American ProTeam of the same first name has folded and brought management, riders and sponsors across to the Luxembourg Leopard-Trek squad.
The UCI has indicated that the next decisions will be announced shortly after November 20th, with the final outcomes to be declared on December 10th.
The Pro Continental teams approved thus far include the It4i squad, previously known as Skil-Shimano. It had hoped to get a ProTeam licence but fell just short of being in the top twenty-ranked teams. The UCI told VeloNation last week that even if the financially-troubled Geox TMC team couldn’t progress with its ProTeam application, that 1T4i wouldn’t be moved up from 21st overall.
A number of other Pro Continental squads have also been named, including the American UnitedHealthcare squad plus the Canadian Spidertech/C10 lineup. The full list at this point in time is detailed below.
More to follow....
UCI ProTeams (first division) as of Nov 2:
Astana Pro Team KAZ
BMC Racing Team USA
Garmin-Cervélo USA
Lampre - ISD ITA
Liquigas - Cannondale ITA
Movistar Team ESP
Rabobank NED
Sky Procycling GBR
UCI Professionnel Continental Teams (second division) as of Nov 2:
Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s BEL
Androni Giocattoli ITA
Acqua & Sapone ITA
Bretagne - Schuller FRA
Caja Rural ESP
Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne FRA
Colnago – CSF Inox IRL
Colombia - Coldeportes COL
Landbouwkrediet BEL
Project 1t4i NED
Saur - Sojasun FRA
Spidertech powered by C10 CAN
Team Netapp GER
Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator BEL
UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling Team USA
Follow-up story: UCI, RadioShack Nissan and Vacansoleil DCM give initial responses