Team Saxo Bank will continue its World Tour license for the 2012 season
Alberto Contador’s ban from professional cycling raised a lot of concerns for Team Saxo Bank in the 2012 season.
The team was in danger of losing its World Tour status after the exit of Contador. UCI License Commission announced today that the team will continue the 2012 season at the top level of the sport.
Court of Arbitration for Sport banned Alberto for using clenbuterol at the Tour de France 2010.
Spanish Cycling Federation initially released the cyclist but both UCI and WADA appealed against RFEC decision.
The case experienced a lot of setbacks and the final decision was made in February 2012.
The cyclist is now prohibited to ride until August 2012 and has also been stripped off from all the results since the Tour de France 2010.
Contador will miss all the major cycling events of the 2012 season including the Tour de France, Giro d’ Italia and the 2012 London Olympics.
Vuelta a Espana is the only big race Alberto is entitled to ride this year.
The Spaniard finished third at the 2011 UCI World rankings with a total number of 471 UCI points to his credit.
Philippe Gilbert claimed the top spot with 698 points to his credit with his team-mate Cadel Evans 124 points behind at the second position.
Team Saxo Bank Sungard achieved the 8th overall spot at the UCI World Tour team’s rankings with 689 points to its credit.
Almost 70 % of the points earned by the team came through Contador and his disqualification from all the past victories raised suspicions on the team’s World Tour License.
UCI decision to allow the team to continue at the top level of sport has eased a lot of pressure off Bjarne Riis shoulders.
"We very much think this is the right decision given the whole situation that caused the re evaluation of our license," Riis noted.
"Now we very much look forward to putting all our energy, effort and focus back on running the team and racing again, and for the first time in more than one and a half year we are actually able to do so 100 percent," he concluded.
Team Saxo Bank currently lies at the last overall spot on the UCI World Tour Team’s ranking as of April 1, 2012.
The squad is optimistic to improve its performance and the UCI decision will definitely ease a great deal of pressure. It will also help the team with its improved performance in the second quarter of the season.
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