Top 18 World Tour Teams Announced!

UPDATE!  UCI says "Nyet" to Russian Katusha Team.  The UCI did not grant a 2013 license to Katusha despite the team's #2 world points ranking.  The UCI provided no insight into the ruling that leaves Katusha out in the cold of Siberia and has people wondering all the way to Moscow. 

Each year the International Cycling Union (UCI) awards World Tour status to the top 18 racing teams in the world.  Today, (Dec. 10) the list was announced. Please note some slight team name changes as sponsorships change from year to year.  For example, Cannondale Liquigas is now just Cannondale and Saxo Bank is now Team Saxo-Tinkoff. 

The process for selecting the 18 teams is painstaking and not without some heavy duty math and statistics.  So much so the UCI employs the international auditing firm of Ernst and Young to sort it all out.  The SBT crew will try to break the selection criteria down for our readers.  So, in a nutshell… 

The UCI ranking lists the top 15 teams first, based on their 12 best riders and their accumulated points and times from the past season.  But it is not that simple, these 15 teams must also pass the UCI's requirements for "ethics, finances, and administration."  Simply put, they need to be clean, have money and be run like a Swiss watch.  It is very good to be in the top 15, chances of those teams securing World Tour status are excellent. The teams that have good rider times, points and are a tight-ship operation will be awarded licenses to races in UCI World Cup events.  One way to ensure a license it to have one from the previous year and come off a strong season and then simply reapply.  

Where it gets dicey is teams ranked 16-20, they will keep their fingers crossed that they have met the criteria.  Only three teams from the 16-20 bracket will make the top 18.  If a team is not ranked in the top 18 they can still race professionally just not on the World Tour.  They may apply again next year.  Some notable teams out of the top 15 were the familiar Saxo Bank (with Alberto Contador.  His points do not count because of doping ban) and the Belgian team of Lotto Belisol.  Team EuropCar was also in the danger zone.  One way for teams to improve their standing is with the signing of riders from other teams and have the rider bring their points with them.  

Here are the top 15 teams in alpha order:

·        AG2R La Mondiale (France)

·        Astana Pro Team (Kazakhstan)

·        BMC Racing Team (USA)

·        Cannondale (Italy)

·        Euskaltel – Euskadi (Spain)

·        Former Rabobank (Team will have no sponsorship this season.  Look for them in all white kits.)

·        Garmin Sharp (USA)

·        Katusha (Russia)  SEE UPDATE ABOVE

·        Lampre – Merida (Italy)

·        Movistar Team (Spain)

·        Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team (Belgium)

·        Orica GreenEdge (Australia)

·        RadioShack Nissan (Luxembourg)

·        Sky Procycling (England)

·        Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team (Holland)

These are teams ranked 16-20 based on rankings.  Only three were to be selected but due to Katusha not being selected a fourth was drawn from this pool: 

16.  Team Argos – Shimano (Holland)--selected for 2013, replacing Katusha
17.  Lotto Belisol (Belgium)--selected for 2013
18.  FDJ (France)--selected for 2013
19.  Team Europcar (France)--not selected
20.  Team Saxo – Tinkoff (Denmark)--selected for 2013 

Top 18 are now finalized.  Katusha may apply for wild card status to enter selected races.  We will also have a photo montage of the teams on our website under PHOTOS soon.  Please visit www.stickybottleteam.net.