U.S. based pro team BMC earned wild card status from the UCI on Tuesday, but some major European teams did not, possibly ruling out starts at the major tours and ProTour events.
Agritubel, Acqua e Sapone, LPR and Xacobeo did not receive the wild card label needed which allows riders access to their biological passport and hence the sport’s major tours.
• Vorarlberg – Corratec (AUT)
• Landbouwkrediet – Colnago (BEL)
• Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator (BEL)
• Andalucia – Cajasur (ESP)
• Contentpolis – AMPO (ESP)
• Barloworld (GBR)
• Ceramica Flaminia – Bossini Docce (IRL)
• ISD (ITA)
• Skil – Shimano (NED)
• Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team (NED)
• Cervelo Test Team (SUI)
• BMC Racing Team (USA)
• Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni – Androni Giocattoli (VEN)
None of these teams appear on the list of 13 Continental Pro teams awarded this label Tuesday.
This concerns riders such as Italians Danilo Di Luca, Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) and Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone), Frenchmen Romain Feillu, Christophe Moreau and Nicolas Vogondy (Agritubel).
The major tours, and particularly the Tour de France, have made it an entry stipulation that all teams must follow the rules concerning the biological passport.
According to a UCI press release, “Wild card” status is “given only to teams that fulfill strict quality criteria on a number of levels: sporting (history of strong performances by team and riders), legal (observance of the rules), administrative (rigorous management and transparency) and ethical (especially anti-doping management and procedures).”