February 11/08 5:26 am - Fifteen UCI Continental Professional Teams are Granted "Wild Cards"

Posted by Editor on 02/11/08
 

Fifteen UCI Continental Professional Teams are Granted "Wild Cards"
Courtesy UCI

Today the Licence Commission has granted wild cards to the following 15 teams, for a period of one year:

• Elk Haus-Simplon (AUT)
• Team Volksbank (AUT)
• Landbouwkrediet-Tonissteiner (BEL)
• Topsport Vlaanderen (BEL)
• Andalucia-Cajasur (ESP)
• Karpin Galicia (ESP)
• Agritubel (FRA)
• Barloworld (GBR)
• CSF Group Navigare (IRL)
• Acqua Sapone-Caffe Mokambo (ITA)
• Tinkoff Credit Systems (ITA)
• Skil-Shimano (NED)
• BMC Racing Team (USA)
• Slipstream Chipotle presented by H30 (USA)
• Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli (VEN)

No decision was made regarding the Mitsubishi-Jartazi team (EST). The Licence Commission is awaiting further information before making any decision on this case.

Teams with a wild card are entitled to be invited to compete in races on the UCI ProTour calendar. Wild cards are given only to teams that fulfil strict quality criteria on a number of levels: technical (history of strong performances by team and riders), legal (observance of the rules), administrative (rigorous management and transparency) and ethical (especially anti-doping management and procedures).

Teams with a wild card are obliged to participate in the biological passport programme (which includes making a financial contribution and agreeing to provide athletes' whereabouts).

Wild cards were introduced in response to requests made by organisers, teams and riders, who, along with the UCI, wanted all participants in races on the UCI ProTour calendar to be held to the same obligations, particularly from an ethical standpoint, with a view to guaranteeing equality of treatment for all teams.