Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team posseses twelfth place on UCI teams’ value ranking

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Tuesday, 02 November 2010 19:48

Written by Luca Salvatelli

For the allocation of the 2011 first and second division licenses the UCI has developed a mathematical model to calculate the sporting value of the teams. This model is based on the 15 best riders of each 2011 team with points that have been won in official worldwide UCI races. The points gained by the Vacansoleil-riders in 2009 and 2010 place the team in 12th spot. The team obtained this position after the blue and yellow formation asked the UCI for the time being to not count the points of Ezequiel Mosquera in the Vacansoleil – DCM sporting value. At the moment there is an investigation pending on the number two of the recent Tour of Spain for supposed violation of the anti-doping rules.

On request of the team the points of Mosquera for 2009 and 2010 are left out of the current ranking. Team manager Daan Luijkx responds to this: “In the battle for a clean sport we think it is inappropriate to score with the points of Mosquera. We believe it is fair towards other teams and the fans to keep the Spanish rider excluded for 2011. The non counting of his point has no influence on the steps to be taken towards the rider. As mentioned before we await the results of the pending investigation to make a decision on the future of the rider. We are confident the authorities will do a proper job.”

The 12th place on the ranking (teams’ sporting value) brings the team closer to the ambition for a first division license. This position is a confirmation for Daan Luijkx: “The team got 74 top-3 spots in 2010 with 19 different riders. These results are gained during the entire season which is a distinguishing quality of the team. The core of the team is maintained and with Devolder, De Gendt and Riccò we believe to be ready for the level of first division.”

In case the Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, like in 2009 and 2010, complies with the financial, ethical and administrative criteria of the UCI the team will receive a First Division license (earlier known as ProTour license). Which starting rights come with the First Division license are not yet known for Luijkx: “We wish to compete in the big races and with the license we can compete in the old ProTour races on the UCI WorldTour calendar, if all giant tours will be on the calendar is not sure yet. What is sure is that the license will give the team an enormous boost. With this way of appointing licenses, the UCI wishes to increase things like stability, professionalism and the sporting level of the teams. I am proud of the team that we are among the best 15 teams of the World based on sporting level and I am hopeful that we will get the license. It would be a great reward for the team if it gets the First Division license.

The Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team won the 2010 UCI Europe Tour Ranking for teams. The team amassed 2624 points, this was over thousand points more than number two Saur-Sojasun.

Press release