UCI Announces Pro Continental Teams

by gavia on Dec 2, 2008 2:42 PM EST in News Comment 8 comments

The UCI has announced today the teams who have received Pro Continental licenses for the 2009 season. Five teams were denied licenses, due to unspecified irregularities. They have until Friday, 5 December to appeal the decision. The five are: Rock Racing, H2O, LPR Brakes, Amica Chips (Martinelli's new team), Murcia-Contentpolis AMPD. According to this press release, it appears that Rock Racing applied for a Pro Conti license after all, but so far, the UCI has not granted them a license. In the United States, BMC is the only team who has received a Pro Continental license.

Have a look at the press release for the full list.

Quicky Update: Podium In Sight gives us the explanation for the denial of Rock Racing's application. According to an interview Ball granted to Bicycling Magazine, the team put in an application, then decided against completing the process. Ball reportedly did not see much chance of securing invites to the Giro d'Italia or other major races, given the many other teams trying to get in the door (true dat!), and decided to save his cash. The team will revisit the decision next season.

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ooh big blow for Di Luca

this means he won’t be able to ride the Ardennes again. LPR applied for the biological passport program though, so it is sort of surprising that they didn’t get the Pro-Conti license.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 2, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

it's possible that they'll still get it

They have until Friday to appeal, so it’s possible that whatever is wrong with their application can be revised.

We’ll see.

by gavia on Dec 2, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

adding

I hit post too quicklike…

The press release doesn’t specify why the teams were denied – could be anything from a un-crossed t, to something more fundamental.

by gavia on Dec 2, 2008 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well if they don't get one then Di Luca won't be in anything big outside of the Giro

unfortunate in my mind, you can think what you want of him and his doping dealio, but one must admit he is a very good rider in the classics, and they are even more fun with him there.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 2, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs