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UCI grants new ProTour licenses
The UCI Licenses Commission has granted an additional seven ProTour licenses, bring the number of teams holding the governing body’s top designation to 16.
In release issued on Monday, the UCI announced that the panel has approved the applications of Cofidis (F), Française des Jeux (F), Katusha (RUS), Quick Step (BEL), Saxo Bank-IT Factory (DEN), Silence-Lotto (BEL) and Rabobank (NED).
The commission is still reviewing the applications of Euskaltel-Euskadia and BBox-Bouygues Telecom.
The license commission had earlier approved the application of the U.S.-based Garmin team. Eight other teams have existing licenses and plan to continue racing in the series in 2009, bringing the total to 16, with two more pending.
The resurgence in the number of ProTour teams comes after the near collapse of the series earlier in the year, when the UCI and grand tour organizers appeared ready to establish competing events on separate calendars.
The dispute was resolved this summer and the number of applications – both pending and approved – suggests that the dispute has at least temporarily been settled.
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