Relearning the UCI World Tour teams for 2012
As the UCI deadline for license application passed on October 1st, the organization of teams for the 2012 cycling season is not yet known or complete. What is know is that 4 teams are applying for new World Tour licenses, some teams have not yet applied, 5 Professional Continental Teams missed the deadline, and most of the remaining teams are good to go for 2012.
October is always an untidy month in the world of pro cycling with much left unknown. I always wonder why the teams miss the deadline with the UCI (is Jonathan Vaughters trying to make yet another statement). The reality is it takes time for the teams to finalize their financing and paperwork. Teams must submit to the UCI, sponsorship contracts, contracts with 12 riders, details of the team’s budget, a bank guarantee, and a description of the team structure.
In 2011 eighteen teams were approved for UCI ProTeam license by the UCI. Twenty-one teams were approved for ProConti status, but only 19 teams have applied for Professional Continental licenses in 2012. We may see fewer Conti teams. The loss of HTC-Highroad and Radioshack will hopefully allow for World Tour licensing of Europecar and FDJ who missed out in 2011.
A team is allowed to change their name and use the same license approved in 2011 if the license remains valid. For example the new Radioshack-Nissan team will be using the still active Leopard Trek license since the two teams have merged. The same applies to the revised Lotto, and Omega Pharma-Quick Step teams, when a Sponsor jumped teams.
PROTOUR TEAMS - final
Professional cycling teams for 2012
Competing teams:
Team DS team website
A team is allowed to change their name and use the same license approved in 2011 if the license remains valid. For example the new Radioshack-Nissan team will be using the still active Leopard Trek license since the two teams have merged. The same applies to the revised Lotto, and Omega Pharma-Quick Step teams, when a Sponsor jumped teams.
Professional cycling teams for 2012
Competing teams:
Team DS team website
| AG2R La Mondiale | ALM |  | Vincent LAVENU | www.cyclisme.ag2rlamondiale.fr |
| Astana Pro Team | AST |  | Giuseppe MARTINELLI | www.astana.lu |
| BMC Racing Team | BMC |  | John LELANGUE | www.bmc-racing.com |
| Euskaltel-Euskadi | EUS |  | Gorka GERRIKAGOITIA ARRIEN | fundacioneuskadi.com |
| FDJ-BigMat | FDJ | | Marc MADIOT | www.equipecyclistefdj.fr |
| Garmin-Barracuda | GRM | | Alan PEIPER | www.slipstreamsports.com/ |
| Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | GEC |  | Matthew WHITE | www.greenedgecycling.com |
| Katusha Team | KAT |  | Valerio PIVA | www.katushateam.com |
| Lampre - ISD | LAM |  | Roberto DAMIANI | www.teamlampreisd.com |
| Liquigas-Cannondale | LIQ | | Dario MARIUZZO | www.teamliquigas.com |
| Lotto Belisol Team | LTB |  | Marc SERGEANT | www.lottobelisol.be |
| Movistar Team | MOV | | José Luis LAGUIA MARTINEZ | www.movistarteam.com |
| Omega Pharma-Quick Step | OPQ | | Davide BRAMATI | www.omegapharma-quickstep.com |
| Rabobank Cycling Team | RAB |  | Frans MAASSEN | www.rabosport.nl |
| RadioShack-Nissan | RNT | | Luca GUERCILENA/td> | www.leopard.lu |
| Sky Pro Cycling | SKY |  | Sean YATES | www.teamsky.com |
| Team Saxo Bank | SAX |  | Bjarne RIIS | www.slipstreamsports.com |
| Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | VCD | | Hilaire VAN DER SCHUEREN | www.vacansoleildcm.com |
2012 CONTINENTAL TEAMS Update 12/12/11: UCI releases final list of Pro Continental teams for 2012 by VeloNation
Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s (Bel)
Acqua & Sapone (Ita) Andalucia (Esp) Androni Giocattoli (Ita) Bretagne – Schuller (Fra) Caja Rural (Esp) Champion System Pro Cycling Team (Chn) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne (Fra) Colnago – Csf Inox (Irl) Colombia – Coldeportes (Col) Farnese Vini (Gbr) Landbouwkrediet (Bel) Rusvelo (Rus) Saur – Sojasun (Fra) Spidertech Powered By C10 (Can) Team Europcar (Fra) Team Netapp (Ger) Team Type 1 – Sanofi (USA) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator (Bel) Unitedhealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA) Utensilnord Named (Irl) |
Update 11/21/11:
License approved (16): AG2R La Mondiale, Astana Pro Team (Kazakstan), BMC Racing Team (USA), Euskaltel – Euskadi, FDJ (France), Garmin-Cervélo Baracuda (USA) Update January 201, Katusha, Lampre – ISD (ITA), Liquigas – Cannondale (ITA), Lotto Belisol, Movistar Team (ESP), Omega Pharma-Quick Step Cycling Team, Rabobank (NED), Saxo Bank, Sky Procycling (GBR), Vacansoleil – DCM
FDJ awarded WorldTour license for 2012, RadioShack Nissan and GreenEdge miss out on next round of WorldTour licence registrationLicense approved (16): AG2R La Mondiale, Astana Pro Team (Kazakstan), BMC Racing Team (USA), Euskaltel – Euskadi, FDJ (France), Garmin-
Under review (2) (more documentation needed from teams): Radioshack-Nissan-Trek, GreenEDGE
Update 11/16/11:
Saxo Bank to take over full title sponsorship of Riis Cycling, SunGard leaves
UCI won’t elaborate on why RadioShack and Vacansoleil have ProTeam licence issues
The new teams (GreenEdge Cycling Team, Lotto Cycling Project) along with the ProTeams which have asked for a licence renewal (Saxo Bank Sungard, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team, Katusha Team), as well as teams from the second division (Geox – TMC, FDJ, Team Europcar) and also those which are ranked between 16th and 20th in the ranking of sporting values (AG2R La Mondiale, Euskaltel – Euskadi) will automatically be called before the Licence Commission.
The teams Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team and RadioShack-Nissan will also be heard by the Licence Commission in accordance with article 2.15.071 of the regulations. Shortly after November 20th, the UCI will communicate a first series of decisions of the Licence Commission concerning the awarding of first division licences and registration in first or second division.
The final decisions of the License Commission will be communicated on December 10th.
According to the UCI these are the certain UCI License approvals for 2012 (first division):
Astana Pro Team (Kazakstan)BMC Racing Team (USA)
Euskaltel – Euskadi (possible sponsorship issues)
Garmin-Cervélo (USA)
Lampre – ISD (ITA)
Liquigas – Cannondale (ITA)
Movistar Team (ESP)
Rabobank (NED)
Sky Procycling (GBR)
Under Review:
Radioshack-Nissan-Trek (under current review, using previous Leopard-Trek license)Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team (also under review)
New UCI license applications filed (8):
FDJGreenEDGE
Katusha
Omega Pharma-Quick Step Cycling Team (new name for the old Quick Step team)
Project 1t4i (new name for the old Skil-Shimano team)
Saxo Bank
Europcar - (denied 11/21/11)
Unknown:
AG2R La Mondiale
Geox – TMC (withdrawn)
AG2R La Mondiale
Update 11/2/11:
Eight teams awarded ProTeam licences for 2012, others must await future decisionEight teams have secured license, the others will have to wait for final announcements on December 10, 2011
Astana Pro Team (Kazakstan), BMC Racing Team (USA), Garmin-Cervélo (USA), Lampre – ISD (ITA), Liquigas – Cannondale (ITA), Movistar Team (ESP), Rabobank (NED) and Sky Procycling (GBR).
Update 10/25/11:
Teams in the top 15
Astana Pro Team
BMC Racing Team
Garmin – Cervélo
GreenEdge Cycling Team
Katusha Team
Lampre - ISD
Liquigas – Cannondale
Lotto Cycling Project
Movistar Team
Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
Rabobank
RadioShack – Nissan
Saxo Bank
Sky Procycling
Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team
Teams eligible for WorldTour
Geox – TMC
AG2R La Mondiale
FDJ
Euskaltel – Euskadi
Team Europcar
Update 10/05/11:
What we know about UCI World Tour ProTeams for 2012
Looking hopeful (10):
AG2R La Mondiale
Astana Pro Team
BMC Racing Team
Euskaltel-Euskadi (possible sponsorship issues)
Lampre-ISD
Liquigas-Cannondale
Rabobank
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek (the new name for Leopard Trek) (under review)
Sky Procycling
Vacansoleil-DCM
New applications filed (8):
Europcar (they were rejected last year)
FDJ
GreenEDGE (new Australian team)
Katusha
Lotto-Ridley (new name for the old Omega Pharma-Lotto team)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step (new name for the old Quick Step team)
Project 1t4i (new name for the old Skil-Shimano team)
Saxo Bank-SunGard
Missed the initial application deadline of 1 October 2011 for the 2012 season (3):
Garmin-Cervelo
Geox-TMC (license rejected in 2011)
Update 10/20/11:
Updated: Geox pulls sponsorship from team Movistar
Astana Pro Team
BMC Racing Team
Euskaltel-Euskadi (possible sponsorship issues)
Lampre-ISD
Liquigas-Cannondale
Rabobank
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek (the new name for Leopard Trek) (under review)
Sky Procycling
Vacansoleil-DCM
New applications filed (8):
Europcar (they were rejected last year)
FDJ
GreenEDGE (new Australian team)
Katusha
Lotto-Ridley (new name for the old Omega Pharma-Lotto team)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step (new name for the old Quick Step team)
Project 1t4i (new name for the old Skil-Shimano team)
Saxo Bank-
Missed the initial application deadline of 1 October 2011 for the 2012 season (3):
Garmin-Cervelo
Update 10/20/11:
Updated: Geox pulls sponsorship from team Movistar
Update 10/05/11:
What we know about Professional Continental Teams for 2012
good to go (14):
Accent Jobs (new name for the old Verandas Willems-Accent team)
Androni Giocattoli
Bretagne-Schuller
Caja Rural
Cofidis, le credit en ligne
Colnago-CSF Inox
Farnese Vini
Landbouwkrediet
Saur-Sojasun
Spidertech powered by C10
Team NettApp
Team Type 1-Sanofi
Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
missed the application deadline of 1 October 2011 (5):
Acqua & Sapone
Andalucia-Caja Granada
CCC Polsat-Polkowice
Colombia es Pasion-Café de Colombi
De Rosa-Ceramiche Flaminia
good to go (14):
Accent Jobs (new name for the old Verandas Willems-Accent team)
Androni Giocattoli
Bretagne-Schuller
Caja Rural
Cofidis, le credit en ligne
Colnago-CSF Inox
Farnese Vini
Landbouwkrediet
Saur-Sojasun
Spidertech powered by C10
Team NettApp
Team Type 1-Sanofi
Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
missed the application deadline of 1 October 2011 (5):
Acqua & Sapone
Andalucia-Caja Granada
CCC Polsat-Polkowice
Colombia es Pasion-Café de Colombi
De Rosa-Ceramiche Flaminia
Word-of-the-day Definitions:
World Tour - what used to be called the ProTour became the UCI World Tour in 2011. It is comprised of 27 elite male cycling events around the world. None of the races in the USA are on the World Tour calendar. (use a space between the 2 words). View a complete list of all UCI World Tour races. And the current World Tour rankings.
The UCI World Tour consists of 27 events. These events are made up from:
- The three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a Espana)
- The five Monument one day races
- Nine further stage races in Europe
- Six further one day races in Europe
- One stage race in Australia
- Two one day races in Canada
- One stage race in Asia
UCI Professional Continental Team - these teams compete in the UCI Continental Circuit races divided into 5 specified zones around the world, and must be formally invited to compete in a World Tour event. The team is comprised solely of professional riders and must have 14 riders, 2 team managers and 3 other staff members in full employment all year. ProConti is the slang term used for these teams.
UCI Continental Team - are governed on a national level and may comprise both professional and amateur riders who compete in continental races in their region. The nation under which the team is registered is the nation under which the majority of its riders are registered.
As the final team licenses are issued for 2012, please check these links in the coming months:
Look for the official 2012 list of UCI ProTeams
Look for the official 2012 list of UCI Professional Continental Teams
Look for the official 2012 list of UCI Continental Teams (change the drop-down box)
Look for the official 2012 list of UCI Womens Teams (change the drop-down box)