The UCI have indicated that it is likely to grant a one year licence to the new look Rabobank squad, a ‘white label’ team which will be funded with money from that backer but compete without the logo of the bank.
Last week the existence of the squad was plunged into uncertainty when Rabobank announced that it was withdrawing from cycling because of the USADA report into doping by Lance Armstrong and the US Postal Service team.
It later emerged that the sponsor would meet its obligations for 2013 for the men, and would continue until 2016 for Marianne Vos and the women.
However for those male riders, there are no guarantees past next season. Perhaps because they have been put in a difficult position very late in the season, the UCI has indicated that it will take this into account when considering a WorldTour licence.
“We will request the license commission to make an exception,” stated UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani to Wielerrevue, on the subject of a shorter one year extension. “An important condition for the extended World Tour license is the bank guarantee that the UCI received. On the basis of that guarantee in the budget, such a licence may be granted for next year.”
The allocation of licences will be announced next month.