Fight for ProTour places hots up
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

With the rider signing season in full swing there's an underlying reason for many squad's feverish scrabbling to sign top-level riders - a ProTour licence.
A total of 14 teams have now applied for the eight vacant Union Cycliste International ProTour places, meaning that there will be several disappointed teams unable to obtain a licence in the top flight, and the lack of assured entry into some of the highest-profile races.
Licence applications are studied in detail by the UCI's licence commission, which takes into account the financial stability of each team, sporting performance and ethics, particularly with regard to anti-doping protocol. The finalised list of 2011 ProTour teams should be published by December 10, 2010.
Without the presence of one or more top riders on its roster, a team may fail in its bid to secure a licence - hence the rush by several to sign the top-performing professional cyclists. It's good for the riders' hopes of a salary increase, but not so good for those squads with more limited budgets that fail to attract the top names.
Ten current teams have licences that extend into the 2011 season and beyond: Ag2r, Garmin-Transitions, Lampre-ISD, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Rabobank, Team Sky, Katusha, RadioShack and Saxo Bank.
Eight current ProTour teams have applied to renew their licences: Astana, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Francaise des Jeux, Liquigas-Doimo, HTC-Columbia, Geox (Footon-Servetto), Velocity (Milram) and Telefonica Movistar (Caisse d'Epargne).
In addition to this eight, six further teams have submitted an application for a ProTour place: Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis, BMC Racing Team, Vacansoleil, Pegasus Sports and the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project.
Read more on this story in the August 26 edition of Cycling Weekly magazine
Related links
Riis welcomes Contador and Saxo Bank's continuation
Cunego renews with Lampre as Damiani and ISD join team
Cunego narrows search; Gianetti's Geox on standby
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
-
Wout van Aert v. Mathieu van der Poel - a truly rare and iconic sporting rivalry
As the duo continue to trade blows on the biggest of stages, their rivalry will go down in history as one of cycle racings greatest
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'A movie that should have been made long ago': New film celebrates cycling’s first Black World Champion
A new film titled Whirlwind aims to return Major Taylor to the spotlight by celebrating his trailblazing life and lasting influence.
By Tim Peck • Published