Ag2r La Mondiale, Euskaltel-Euskadi and FDJ are among the latest teams to be confirmed for the UCI WorldTour in 2012.
- Euskaltel-Euskadi (pictured ahead of the 2011 Tour de France, FDJ and Ag2r La Mondiale have been upgraded to WorldTour status
But RadioShack-Nissan, a merger between RadioShack and Leopard-Trek, and new Australian team GreenEdge are still waiting to have their licenses confirmed after the UCI asked for additional documentation to support their applications.
All WorldTour applications are audited by Ernst & Young, with each squad required to satisfy sporting, ethical, financial and administrative criteria.
French teams Ag2r and FDJ, and Spanish outfit Euskaltel-Euskadi, were not included in pro cycling’s top tier in 2011, but beat Europcar and Geox-TMC to the three spots on offer.
Europcar’s WorldTour application was rejected outright, despite Thomas Voeckler spending ten days in the yellow jersey at the Tour de France and Pierre Rolland, who won the stage to Alpe d’Huez, finishing as the best young rider. Cash-strapped Geox-TMC withdrew its application.
Eight teams saw their existing licenses continued earlier this month, while the UCI have now also rubber-stamped three-year WorldTour licenses for Katusha and Lotto-Belisol, a two-year ride for Omega Pharma-Quick Step, and a one-year extension for SaxoBank.
WorldTour teams confirmed for 2012
Ag2r La Mondiale (France)
Astana Pro Team (Kazakhstan)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (Spain)
FDJ (France)
Garmin-Cervélo (USA)
Katusha (Russia)
Lampre-ISD (Italy)
Lotto-Belisol (Belgium)
Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy)
Movistar Team (Spain)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step (Belgium)
Rabobank (Netherlands)
Saxo Bank (Denmark)
Sky Procycling (Great Britain)
Vacansoleil-DCM (Netherlands)
