World Tour Licenses Awarded

The final World Tour licenses have been awarded with one shock decision. Team Katusha who have the UCI number one rider Joaquim Rodriguez on their books have been denied a license for next season. For a team which had a rider on two Grand Tour podiums along with several big wins across the season and finished third on the UCI World Tour team rankings will now be riding at a Pro Continental. The team had initially been listed along with 15 other teams which had met the sporting criteria for a license but now are unsure why they have missed out. The UCI have said that indeed Katusha do not know why they have missed out but will be formally informed in the coming days.



What had been expected to be a four way squeeze into three with Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank and Argos-Shimano thought to be fighting it out for the last place. However both teams are in and Argos are celebrating their first World Tour license.

UPDATE: Katusha has sent a letter to cyclingnews protesting their exclusion from the World Tour ans outlining the process of appeal the team will take. Letter in full below'

"Dear Sirs,
I am acting on behalf of KATUSHA MANAGEMENT SA (KATUSHA).
By letter dated 10 December 2012 - surprisingly simultaneously published on the UCI website - the UCI Licence Commission has informed KATUSHA of its decision to refuse its registration as UCI ProTeam for the season 2013-2015.
This decision from the UCI Licence Commission is categorically contested and refused by KATUSHA.
Please note that in November 2012, the "UCI Team Evaluation Report 2013" stated that only the "Financial Criterion" was assessed as "Does not Comply" but that all other criteria effectively complied with the UCI requirements.
During the hearing of 22 November 2012, KATUSHA provided all the requested information and documents to the UCI Licence Commission. During this hearing, Mr Pierangelo Beltrami from Ernst & Young confirmed that the explanation and information were unconditionally accepted and sufficient.
I underline that this information has been confirmed by Mr Pierangelo Beltrami to Mr Holczer yesterday by phone.
It thus appears that all the criteria comply with UCI requirements and therefore no reasons may justify the refusal of the licence for the season 2013 to 2015.
Considering the above-mentioned elements, KATUSHA hereby requests that its licence for the 2013-1015 seasons be granted without delay and conditions by the UCI Licence Commission.
Should the registration as UCI ProTeam for the seasons 2013-2015 be denied, KATUSHA will immediately file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sports and/or any other forum it may deemed appropriate to defend its rights.
I would like to underline that the decision rendered on 10 December 2012 by the UCI Licence Commission was not only an unbelievable shock for KATUSHA but also for all our contact persons in charge of this file with the UCI and Ernst & Young. I note that a major part of the members of the cycling world were identically surprised by such dramatic and unforeseen decision.
Finally, I kindly draw your attention to the terrible consequences this decision will have in particular for the image and reputation of the team, sponsors, partners, riders, staff and employees.
This unacceptable decision will obviously have irreparable consequences for the overall KATUSHA project, particularly in Russia.
My client hereby reserved all its rights to request damages should this situation not be corrected immediately."