MPCC extends Astana, Katusha, others probationary invites
Six teams offered probationary invitations to Movement for Credible Cycling as 21 others fully inducted
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The Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC), a teams group that adheres to heightened ethical standards, approved the applications of a number of squads on Thursday, but required six teams to undergo a probationary period before being fully admitted in October.
Astana, Blanco, Lampre-Merida, and Vacansoleil-DCM, all members of the WorldTour, and Pro Continental squads Androni Giocatolli and Katusha must each wait until October before being officially admitted to the group.
“I understand the philosophy of the MPCC,” said Androni manager Gianni Savio. “This is the survival of our sport at stake.”
Twenty-one other candidate teams were integrated into the MPCC on a vote by the first 11 members of the movement during its general meeting held in Roissy, France.
The Association of Race Organizers (AIOCC) voted in December to give priority to MPCC members when deciding race invitations. The move essentially forced Pro Continental teams to join the group in order to vie for wildcard invitations to the sport’s marquee events. A flood of applications followed, growing the group from 11 members to 38, including the six probationary members.
Among the new teams are American squads Novo Nordisk and Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, as well as French development team La Pomme Marseille, home to Americans Robert Bush and Joshua Berry. Other applicants included Verandas Willems, Creland-Euphony, Oster Hus Ridler, Team Colombia, OCBC Singapore, Plussbank, Bardiani CSF Inox, and BigMat Auber 93.