The UCI has registered 17 teams for 2010, including Astana, however this does not guarantee the team will receive a renewed ProTour license.
The registration is separate from the licensing, and is more aligned with a team having filed the appropriate paperwork. Astana has an uphill battle to receive their license. The UCI is requiring them to obtain a bank guarantee in order to move forward, a requirement intended to prevent the fiasco the team encountered this year when it was unable to pay its riders’ salaries for an extended period of time.
Despite this, VeloNews is reporting that Oscar Pereiro has stated he’ll be racing for Astana in 2010, but there is no official word from the team yet. He has also received offers from Xacobeo-Galicia and Quick Step, but told Radio Galega he signed an agreement with Astana for one year, adding “It’s going to be an important team.”
Pereiro and Caisse d’Epargne parted ways mid-year after Periero was unable to finish the Tour de France and didn’t start the Vuelta a España as planned.
Hit ‘more’ to see the current 17 teams registered with the UCI…
Team - Country of Registration - License Expiration
Ag2r La Mondiale   (FRA)   2012
Astana   (KAZ)   2010
Caisse d’Epargne   (ESP)   2010
Euskaltel-Euskadi   (ESP)   2010
Footon-Servetto   (ESP)   2010
Française des Jeux   (FRA)   2010
Garmin-Slipstream   (USA)   2012
Liquigas-Doimo   (ITA)   2010
Omega Pharma-Lotto   (BEL)   2011
Quick Step   (BEL)   2011
Rabobank   (NED)   2012
Saxo Bank   (DEN)   2011
Team Columbia-HTC   (USA)   2010
Team Katusha   (RUS)   2011
Team Milram   (GER)   2010
Team RadioShack   (USA)   2013
Team Sky   (GBR)   2013
Photo: Caisse d’Epargne
