Team Wiggins granted UCI licence

On the day that Sky confirmed that Bradley Wiggins will leave the team on April 30, the UCI has announced it has issued a licence to the World time trial champion's new squad.

As revealed by Cycling Weekly in December, the squad will be called Team Wiggins and will operate at UCI Continental level.

Established for 2015, CW reported yesterday that the team - largely comprised of riders on British Cycling's Olympic Podium Programme endurance squad - will make its debut at the Challenge Majorca four-day at the end of January.

The UCI's approval of Team Wiggins's licence also confirms that former Wiggle-Honda DS Simon Cope will manage the team. Pinarello will supply bikes, Rapha the clothing.

Upon leaving Team Sky, Wiggins can join his new squad during the UCI's permitted transfer window in June.

Having Continental status allows them to race in races ranked by the UCI up to Hors Categorie status in the UK (as per RideLondon and the Tour of Britain), as well as events such as the Tour Series.

Team Wiggins becomes the sixth British team to be registered as a UCI Continental team for 2015, alongside JLT Condor, Madison Genesis, NFTO, One Pro Cycling and Raleigh-GAC.