Although it was expected to be tomorrow or Wednesday before a decision was reached on the Pro Continental licence application of the Pegasus Sports team, the UCI has this evening confirmed that it will not accept the application.
In a short, to-the-point press release issued in the last few minutes from Aigle, the governing body has said that the team has been rejected. This will cause considerable chaos for the riders, many of whom have nothing else lined up for 2011. Although it could in theory race on as a Continental squad, many of the competitors such as Robbie McEwen (pictured) have clauses in their contracts stating that they are free to move elsewhere if a Pro Continental licence is not secured.
No clear explanation was given for the decision.
“On the basis of the file submitted to it within the established deadline and taking into account the opinion of Ernst & Young, the UCI Licence Commission today decided to refuse the registration of the Australian team Pegasus Sports as a UCI Professional Continental Team,” stated the governing body.
“This decision brings the registration procedure for 2011 to a close for first and second division. Therefore, there are 23 teams registered as UCI Professional Continental Teams for next season.”
VeloNation will have more on this story later.