RusVelo to be reexamined; Andalucía refused; Katusha yet to apply after WorldTour rejection
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has confirmed the names of the final three teams to have been registered as Professional Continental in 2013. The inclusion of Bardiani Valvolve-CSF Inox [currently Colnago-CSF Inox – ed], Bretagne-Séché Environnement [currently Bretagne-Schuller – ed] and Champion System takes the number of teams in the sport’s second division to 19, compared to 22 in 2012.
The first 13 teams were announced on November 2nd, at the same time as the UCI confirmed the first eight WorldTour ProTeams, then Colombia, MTN-Qhubeka and Novo Nordisk were confirmed on November 28th. Following meetings of the UCI License Commission on November 22nd and 28th, the final three teams have been added, but not all applications have been successful.
Spanish team Andalucía’s application has been rejected outright, likely on financial grounds, and will have to ride as a Continental team in 2013 if at all.
The Russian registered RusVelo team has not yet been granted a license either, as the UCI is still waiting for the team to provide it with some addition information; the team’s application will be considered again in January.
The door is also still open to RusVelo’s compatriot Katusha, whose application to retain its WorldTour status was refused last week. Ordinarily, rejected WorldTour applicants immediately apply for ProConti status but, since Katusha has taken its case to the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS), it has yet to do so.
UCI Professional Continental Teams (confirmed November 2nd)
Accent Jobs – Wanty (Bel) [currently Accent.jobs-Willems Verandas – ed]
Androni Giocattoli (Ita) [currently Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela – ed]
Caja Rural (Spa)
CCC Polsat Polkowice (Pol)
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (Fra)
IAM Cycling (Swi)
Landbouwkrediet-Euphony (Bel)
Sojasun (Fra) [currently Saur-Sojasun – ed]
Team Europcar (Fra)
Team Netapp-Endura (Ger)
Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise (Bel) [currently Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator – ed]
UnitedHealthCare Professional Cycling Team (USA)
Vini Fantini (Ita) [currently Farnese Vini-Selle Italia – ed]
UCI Professional Continental Teams (confirmed November 28th)
Colombia (Col) [currently Colombia-Coldeportes – ed]
MTN-Qhubeka (RSA)
Team Novo Nordisk (USA) [currently Team Type 1-Sanofi – ed]
UCI Professional Continental Teams (confirmed December 19th)
Bardiani Valvolve-CSF Inox (Ita) [currently Colnago-CSF Inox – ed]
Bretagne-Séché Environnement (Fra) [currently Bretagne-Schuller – ed]
Champion System (Chn)