Team Katusha lost its World Tour Status for 2013
Team Katusha was left shocking after the UCI licence commission denied it a World Tour spot for the season ahead.
"The request from the team Katusha for registration in first division has been rejected,” UCI stated.
“In accordance with UCI regulations, this team’s application has been forwarded to the UCI administration, so that the latter may assess the possibility of registering this team as a UCI Professional Continental Team".
The Russian team had a terrific season and managed to occupy the second overall position after the UCI World Tour team’s rankings with a total number of 1273 UCI points.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver was the team’s top scorer after he claimed 692 UCI points throughout the season with Oscar Freire (181 UCI points), Alexandr Kolobnev (110 UCI points), Daniel Moreno (104 UCI points) and Simon Spilak adding 86 points towards the
team total.
Even Rodriguez’s huge pile of UCI points could not help the team securing its World Tour licence for the season ahead which was a huge disappointment for the Spaniard.
All the UCI World Tour teams receive an automatic invitation to all the World Tour races across the season including all the three Grand Tour races of the season, the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana 2012.
The Professional Continental teams have to rely on the wild-card entries to ensure their participation at those races.
Team Katusha briefed to Cyclingnews that they are not certain why UCI has not granted "In fact they don't know exactly why they don't have a licence. They will know the rough details but they will formally find out in the next few days," UCI noted.
2013 WorldTour teams
Current licence holders approved on Nov. 2
Astana Pro Team
BMC Racing Team
Cannondale
Lampre – Merida
Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team
ORICA GreenEDGE
Sky Procycling
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
Movistar Team (UCI decision of Nov. 16)
Licences issued following Nov./Dec. commission meetings
AG2R La Mondiale (2013-2016)
Euskaltel Euskadi (2013-2016)
Former Rabobank (2013-2014)
Garmin Sharp (2013-2014)
Team Argos–Shimano (2013-2016)
Team Saxo – Tinkoff (2013-2014)
Licences issued for 2013
FDJ
Lotto Belisol
RadioShack-Nissan
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