Passed over in the first wave of registrations announced on November 2nd, RadioShack Nissan has once again failed to satisfy the UCI Licence Commission of its candidature for the top level in 2012 and must provide further documentation.
The UCI today announced the next round of registrations and, apart from RadioShack Nissan missing out again, the new Australian team GreenEdge is also in limbo at this point in time. “The decisions concerning the GreenEDGE Cycling and RadioShack-Nissan teams will be announced later,” the UCI said in a statement. “The Commission is currently waiting for the teams to provide additional documents.”
Two teams fell out of the running today, with the UCI formally confirming that the Europcar team has been denied a licence and the Geox-TMC team has withdrawn its candidature. It has been in a fight to secure sponsorship after Geox walked away.
The UCI has said that the applications of the latter two have been forwarded to it, and that the squads will be considered for Pro Continental status.
A total of seven teams got a green light today, with the decision being taken after hearings held on 15th, 16th and 18th of November. The Licensing Commission has given WorldTour licences to Katusha and Lotto Belisol [2012 – 2015], FDJ and Omega Pharma – Quick Step [2012 – 2014]. Saxo Bank has also been given one but, significantly, for the 2012 season only.
The team sponsors are said to want to continue on a year by year basis, and this is a likely reason. The outcome of the Alberto Contador hearing may also be a factor, as the UCI previously said that it may reconsider the team’s position if the Spaniard – who holds approximately two thirds of the team’s points – is suspended.
In addition registration was granted today to two squads which already had ProTeam licences, namely Ag2r La Mondiale and Euskaltel-Euskadi. Even if teams have been granted multi-year licences, they need to renew registration each year.
A total of sixteen teams have now been given the green light for 2012. In addition to those named above, eight were previously confirmed on November 2nd, namely Astana, BMC Racing Team, Garmin-Cervélo (USA), Lampre – ISD (ITA), Liquigas – Cannondale (ITA), Movistar Team (ESP), Rabobank (NED) and Sky Procycling (GBR). Vacansoleil-DMC was given a thumbs up on November 9th.
It’s clear that RadioShack Nissan team, known as Leopard Trek in 2011, must battle onwards to try to get its licence, and so too GreenEdge. The UCI’s statement appears to give the impression that neither case is a foregone conclusion.
“As it stands, sixteen teams will take part in the UCI WorldTour 2012,” it stated. “In accordance with UCI regulations, a maximum of 18 UCI ProTeams may take part in the UCI WorldTour.
“The full list of UCI Professional Continental Teams registered for the 2012 event will be announced on 12th December. “
In the meantime, the riders on the Luxembourgish and Australian teams have a nervous wait on their hands.