Vacansoleil in the running for ProTeam licence
Dutch team Vacansoleil-DMC was perhaps the biggest surprise in the UCI’s list of teams ranked according to their sporting ability.
42 registered teams were ranked based on the results of their top-15 riders from the 2009 and 2010 season. Vacansoleil managed to finish as high as 12th on the list, just behind Tour de France team classification winner
RadioShack and ahead of top 2010 ProTour teams Astana, Quick Step and BMC-Racing. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, the team managed to achieve that rank after requesting that Ezequiel Mosquera’s points should not be counted.
"In the battle for a clean sport, we think it is inappropriate to score with the points of Mosquera," said Vacansoleil team manager Daan Luijkx.
"We believe it is fair towards other teams and the fans to keep the Spanish rider excluded for 2011. The non-counting of his points has no influence on the steps to be taken towards the rider. As mentioned before, we are awaiting the results of the pending
investigation before making decision on the future of the rider. We are confident the authorities will do a proper job."
Mosquera, who rode with Xacobeo-Galicia in 2009 and 2010, would have been one of the highest scoring riders for Vacansoleil if his points had been counted, but the announcement of his transfer to the Dutch team was followed shortly
after by a doping allegation.
The Spanish cyclist tested positive for Hydroxyethyl starch at the Vuelta a España in September and the case is still being investigated. Mosquera finished in second place overall in the Vuelta, a victory unmatched among the Vacansoleil
squad, which was not invited to any Grand Tours in 2010.
"I am proud of the team that we are among the best 15 teams of the World based on sporting level and I am hopeful that we will get the license," said Luijkx. "It would be a great reward for the team if it gets the First Division license."
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