Team Saxo-Tinkoff content with UCI's decision over World Tour licence
UCI’s decision to deny Team Katusha of its World Tour status has given birth to a new debate and several cyclists from different teams including the whole Team Katusha squad is finding it pretty difficult to understand the judgment behind the decision.
The two teams, Team Saxo-Tinkoff and Team Lotto-Belisol had doubts about their licence but both have now been given the green signal by the cycling governing body while the Russian squad will now have to adjust for a Professional Continental status.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff had a disappointing season after losing its star rider, Alberto Contador and was in danger of losing its World Tour status for the new season.
Contador was accused of using clenbuterol at the Tour de France 2010 and was handed a two-year ban, earlier in 2012.
The ban prevented him from riding all the major cycling races of the season including the 2012 Olympic Games and the first two Grand Tours.
The Spaniard managed to get his guts together at the third and the final mega event of the season, the Vuelta a Espana and claimed an overall victory at the race.
Even though the victory could not really help the team in terms of the UCI points as the UCI law suggest points earned by any cyclist returning from a doping ban will not count towards the team’s total for a period of two years.
Team Managing Director Trey Greenwood was delighted being allowed to ride at the top level of the sport and stated that it “feels good. It is nice, a relief,” team managing director Trey Greenwood told Cyclingnews Tuesday. “We're very happy
and think it is the right decision.”
“Fortunately for us they look at the roster. If it was just mathematics, we wouldn't be here, since they didn't count Alberto's points,” Team Managing Director Trey Greenwood told Cyclingnews.
“We feel we have a lot of other guys who can win races. Bjarne [Riis] put together an excellent team with the budget he has, he is a genius at that”.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff considers itself lucky as its UCI points for the season were not enough to earn a World Tour spot whereas, Team Katusha who bagged the second highest points in the season fails to make it through the top 15.
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