From Eurosport
Astana get ProTour slot
Astana have been granted a ProTour licence for four years starting in 2007, the UCI have confirmed.
Astana, who took over from Liberty Seguros, met the deadline after the UCI reserved a decision on granting a licence for 2007 because the team had not provided all the documents required.
The Kazakh-Swiss team have assembled an impressive roster of riders led by Vuelta champion Alexandre Vinokourov.
The squad also includes Vuelta third-place finisher Andrey Kashechkin, Tour de France third-placed man Andreas Klöden and former Giro D'Italia victor Paolo Savoldelli.
The ProTour licence of Spaniard Manolo Saiz's Active Bay company was withdrawn by the UCI last week.
The measure is meant to prevent Saiz, who is implicated in a doping investigation in Spain, from playing any role in cycling's showcase series.
The Swedish team Unibet have been awarded the slot left vacant by the now-defunct Phonak team to complete the 20 ProTour teams.
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Well, although ProTour is practically dead, Astana's ProTour license means something... It's important for the team, but what does it mean for the sport and ProTour.
I think it's controversial decision
Astana get ProTour slot
Astana have been granted a ProTour licence for four years starting in 2007, the UCI have confirmed.
Astana, who took over from Liberty Seguros, met the deadline after the UCI reserved a decision on granting a licence for 2007 because the team had not provided all the documents required.
The Kazakh-Swiss team have assembled an impressive roster of riders led by Vuelta champion Alexandre Vinokourov.
The squad also includes Vuelta third-place finisher Andrey Kashechkin, Tour de France third-placed man Andreas Klöden and former Giro D'Italia victor Paolo Savoldelli.
The ProTour licence of Spaniard Manolo Saiz's Active Bay company was withdrawn by the UCI last week.
The measure is meant to prevent Saiz, who is implicated in a doping investigation in Spain, from playing any role in cycling's showcase series.
The Swedish team Unibet have been awarded the slot left vacant by the now-defunct Phonak team to complete the 20 ProTour teams.
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Well, although ProTour is practically dead, Astana's ProTour license means something... It's important for the team, but what does it mean for the sport and ProTour.
I think it's controversial decision
