16 additional teams granted wildcard status by the UCI

February 6th, 2010 by Al Fresco View Comments

The UCI’s License Commission granted “wild card” status this week to 16 UCI Professional Continental Teams, for a period of one year. The teams are:

Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Andalucia Cajasur (ESP)
Androni Giocattoli (VEN)
Bbox Bouygues Telecom (FRA)
Carmiooro – NGC (GBR)
Ceramica Flaminia (IRL)
Cervélo Test Team (SUI)
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne (FRA)
Colnago – CSF Inox (IRL)
ISD – Neri (ITA)
Landbouwkrediet (BEL)
Saur – Sojasun (FRA)
Skil – Shimano (NED)
Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator (BEL)
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team (NED)
Xacobeo Galicia Team (ESP)

This brings the number of UCI Professional Continental Teams with “wild card” status to 17. BMC Racing Team (USA), having been invited to the Tour Down Under, was awarded “wild card” status early.

“Wild card” status will give the recipient UCI Professional Continental Teams the right to be invited to races on the UCI ProTour calendar. Teams will only be granted “wild card” status if they meet strict quality criteria, in particular sporting, legal, administrative and ethical criteria. The introduction of “wild card” status fulfills a demand by organizers, teams and riders, who have expressed their desire, together with the UCI, for all participants in races on the UCI ProTour calendar to meet the same requirements, in particular with regards to ethics.

Probably the most notable requirement of wild card status is participation in the UCI’s Biological Passport program. The Biological Passport program requires the riders to register with the UCI’s whereabouts system and requires the team to pay fees for the increased testing necessitated to establish the necessary blood profiles.