Velonews: Uci Announces 2016 Pro Team Applicants

<figure ><img title="2015 Vuelta a Espana, stage 16: Luarca to Ermita de Alba" src="cdn.velonews.competitor.comSPTDW8016 320x212.jpg"Open ↗/><p>Photo: Tim De Waele | <a href="http://www.tdwsport.com" target="_blank">TDWsport.com</a></p></figure><p>The UCI announced Tuesday a list of teams applying for WorldTeam and Pro Continental status in 2016. Based on this preliminary list, we have a few glimpses of what next year’s peloton will look like, and so far, it should seem fairly familiar to cycling fans.</p>
<p>The number of WorldTeams remains at 17 — one short of the 18-team limit set by the UCI. None of these squads are seeing major sponsorship changes. There are only two notable updates: Both Cannondale and Tinkoff are dropping co-sponsors from their team titles. Those squads will no longer carry the Garmin and Saxo names, respectively. Cannondale team officials have confirmed that Garmin will remain involved with the team in the coming season.</p>
<p>The Pro Continental list sees a few fresh names in the mix. As <a title="Direct Energie replaces Europcar as sponsor" href="velonews.competitor.comdirect energie replaces europcar as sponsor 384916">previouslyOpen ↗reported</a>, Direct Energie will take over as sponsor of the French outfit that previously flew the flag for Europcar. Fortuneo-Vital Concept takes over for Bretagne-Séché Environvement, also based in France. Dimension Data is another major player in the second division, and that sponsor takes over the MTN-Qhubeka squad. It remains to be seen if the South African team will keep its striking black-and-white stripes. Delko Marseille-Provence KTM is aiming to step up from the Continental to Pro Continental ranks. This French team formerly raced as Marseille 13-KTM. Similarly, Swiss team Roth-Skoda is applying to upgrade to the second tier. Tharcor is also a new name among the Pro Continental teams. Manager Angelo Citracca confirmed that it is the name of a management company which will take over Team Southeast, which has been plagued by <a title="End of the road for Southeast after fourth doping case?" href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/news/end-of-the-road-for-southeast-after-fourth-doping-case_373268" target="_blank">numerous doping scandals</a> in recent years.</p>
<h2>UCI WorldTeam applicants</h2>
<p>Ag2r La Mondiale<br />Astana<br />BMC Racing<br />FDJ<br />Giant-Alpecin<br />IAM Cycling<br />Katusha<br />LottoNL-Jumbo<br />Movistar<br />Orica-GreenEdge<br />Team Sky<br />Trek Factory Racing<br />Cannondale Pro Cycling<br />Etixx-Quick-Step<br />Lampre-Merida<br />Lotto-Soudal<br />Tinkoff</p>
<h2>UCI Professional Continental Team applicants</h2>
<p>Androni-Giocattoli<br />Bardiani-CSF<br />Bora-Argon 18<br />Caja Rural-Seguros RGA<br />CCC Sprandi Polkowice<br />Cofidis<br />Cult Energy-Stolting Group<br />Delko Marseille Provence KTM<br />Direct Energie<br />Dimension Data<br />Fortuneo-Vital Concept<br />Nippo-Vini Fantini<br />Novo Nordisk<br />Roompot Oranje Peloton<br />Roth-Skoda<br />Rusvelo<br />Tharcor<br />Topsort Vlaanderen-Baloise<br />UnitedHealthcare<br />Wanty-Group Gobert</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="velonews.competitor.comuci announces 2016 pro team applicants 387261">UCIOpen ↗announces 2016 pro team applicants</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com">VeloNews.com</a>.</p>

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