Cycle sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has confirmed the list of 18 teams that will contest the WorldTour calendar during 2018.
There are no major changes to the list of 18 teams from 2017, with only alterations in team names to reflect a few new title sponsors.
Cannondale-Drapac will become EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale and - although not yet listed as such by the UCI – FDJ will become Groupama-FDJ and Orica-Scott will become Mitchelton-Scott.
>>> WorldTour 2018 races: what’s on and when
The 18 squads are termed 'WorldTeams' by the UCI and have automatic entry into races selected for the WorldTour calendar, which includes all three Grand Tours – the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España – and Classics such as Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and Milan-San Remo.
In order to be awarded a WorldTeam licence, the squads must meet a set of criteria that comprises ethical, financial, administrative and organisational.
Once again, the USA is the country that has the most number of teams registered, with three: Trek-Segafredo, BMC Racing Team and EF Education First-Drapac. Belgium, France and Germany each has two teams.
The 37-event 2018 WorldTour calendar kicks off with the Tour Down Under in Australia over January 16-21.
Riders and teams taking part in the WorldTour accrue points depending on finishing positions in races to form a rolling WorldTour ranking. Belgian Greg Van Avermaet of BMC Racing topped the final ranking in 2017.
2018 UCI WorldTour teams
Ag2r-La Mondiale - France
Astana Pro Team - Kazhakstan
Bahrain-Merida - Bahrain
BMC Racing Team - USA
Bora-Hansgrohe - Germany
Dimension Data - RSA
EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale - USA
Groupama-FDJ - France
Lotto-Soudal - Belgium
Mitchelton-Scott - Australia
Movistar Team - Spain
Quick-Step Floors - Belgium
Team Katusha-Alpecin - Switzerland
Team LottoNL-Jumbo - Netherlands
Team Sky - Great Britain
Team Sunweb - Germany
Trek-Segafredo - USA
UAE-Team Emirates - UAE
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