WorldTour License

[CQmanager]

So apparently UCI will review the SaxoBank WT license because the conditions has changed and there is a possibility of losing the WT status for the Saxo team.

IMO the license should NOT be removed from the team as he will return to cycling in about 6 months and it it pretty much a same situation as if Contador was out due to some injury etc. Or would UCI removed the license if the rider responsible for 2/3 of the WT points was out with a long term injury? No They wouldnt, therefore they should not remove the license now.

That being said, I think Saxo is screwed anyway because even if Contador will return in August and even if he will win all the races on UCI calendar, his points will NOT count for WT license for next year. Same case as Valverde.

If the license is removed from Saxo, who is the next team in line to get it? I can assume some French team

 

[Fetisoff]

If the license is removed from Saxo, who is the next team in line to get it? I can assume some French team

I don't think any team would receive it. They could just go with 17 WT teams, and hand out an extra wild card invitation for the world tour races

 

[Thomsena]

I think they will keep the licens. Have been a major influence in the last 10 years. Without Alberto they would have had other riders to get the points for them.

And.. We will see nothing but attacking from this team since they got nothing to lose. Should be entertaining.

 

[Catwhoorg]

There is a night and day difference between a rider who earned a lot of the team points getting injured, and the same rider having a retrospective ban.

The points he earned basically no longer exist for the team.
Instead of bringing 471 world tour points for 2011, he brings a big fat zero.

 

[gustienordic]

I don't think any team would receive it. They could just go with 17 WT teams, and hand out an extra wild card invitation for the world tour races

Saxo would still get invited to the Grand Tours most likely... Especially with so many people furious about this whole debacle. Plus Saxo/CSC is one of the teams with the richest history of the last decade. What would a GT be without them? When was the last time they weren't at one?

 

[Fetisoff]

Saxo would still get invited to the Grand Tours most likely... Especially with so many people furious about this whole debacle. Plus Saxo/CSC is one of the teams with the richest history of the last decade. What would a GT be without them? When was the last time they weren't at one?

Had a very similar conversation in a corresponding Clinic thread, but I will repeat it here.
The only one I see them getting into with any degree of certainty is the Vuelta. Giro - no way (A&S takes their spot). TDF would be a 50/50 with Cofidis and Europcar guaranteed stops, Saur and 1t4i almost guaranteed one. Now they're duking it out with some other good teams for that last spot.

 

[Afrank]

They should be allowed to keep their license, but knowing the UCI I am doubtful if they will.
They no longer have any real GT competitors so they will have to do alot of attacking and go for stage wins, and will have to rely on guy like JJ Haedo, Nuyens, the Sorensons, and maybe we will get to see what Contador's 3 Spanish lieutenants can do now that they won't be supporting him.

 

[RedheadDane]

What about that Majka kid? Isn't he rather sharp too?

 

[LaFlorecita]

What about that Majka kid? Isn't he rather sharp too?

How much points do you think he'll get? Not that much.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well... apparently he's gonna be the Giro captain. So; the must have some faith in him.

 

[Havetts]

Well... apparently he's gonna be the Giro captain. So; the must have some faith in him.

Feels like its a shot in the dark from Riis, he has got talent, but to promote him to get him to deliver some results cause he needs it may not be the best for Majka's career.

 

[BYOP88]

How much points do you think he'll get? Not that much.

I'll bet he'll score more WT points than Contador between now and Jan '14

 

[Havetts]

I'll bet he'll score more WT points than Contador between now and Jan '14

instantrimshot.com

 

[Thomsena]

While we at it, lets not make the team worse than it actually is. A former Flandern champion, Chris Anker (who would arguably be selected on most of the - if not any - Tour De France teams), the what.. 5,7-8th best sprinter in the peloton in Haedo, Paulinho with impressive palmares, Kroon - ageing yes, but still a decent rider, A Daniel Navarro in form is not that bad a climber really, is he..?

Granted. There are mediocre riders on the team. Quite a lot of them tbf.. But many of them are danish and these local riders are expected to be on a danish team.

 

[Afrank]

If only Riis had signed Cobo.

 

[Old&slow]

I do hope they take away Saxo's licensce. When they became aware of his positive test they should have dismissed him on the spot. They were fully aware Contador was going to lose at CAS but still kept him on the team after the fixed ruling by the Spaniards.

Unfortunately for Cylcing Contador got off with an extremely light sentence only serving 6 months of his 2 years and being allowed to race in the meantime. What a farce. The UCI should be ****ed and take away Saxo's license. Contador is a convicted cheater and neither he nor Saxo should have anyplace in Cycling.

 

[BYOP88]

I do hope they take away Saxo's licensce. When they became aware of his positive test they should have dismissed him on the spot. They were fully aware Contador was going to lose at CAS but still kept him on the team after the fixed ruling by the Spaniards.

Unfortunately for Cylcing Contador got off with an extremely light sentence only serving 6 months of his 2 years and being allowed to race in the meantime. What a farce. The UCI should be ****ed and take away Saxo's license. Contador is a convicted cheater and neither he nor Saxo should have anyplace in Cycling.

And they should also remove the Shack's retroactively due to Li Fuyu's positive.

 

[Mambo95]

I do hope they take away Saxo's licensce. When they became aware of his positive test they should have dismissed him on the spot. They were fully aware Contador was going to lose at CAS but still kept him on the team after the fixed ruling by the Spaniards.

It's all well and good thinking that, but Saxo would have been presented with some real obstacles to dismissing him on the spot. Most notably, they would have opened themselves to some serious lawsuits from Contador. Riis would have stood to lose everything. His team and everything he owns. That's not a gamble he could take even if he wanted to.

 

[Afrank]

I do hope they take away Saxo's licensce. When they became aware of his positive test they should have dismissed him on the spot. They were fully aware Contador was going to lose at CAS but still kept him on the team after the fixed ruling by the Spaniards.

Unfortunately for Cylcing Contador got off with an extremely light sentence only serving 6 months of his 2 years and being allowed to race in the meantime. What a farce. The UCI should be ****ed and take away Saxo's license. Contador is a convicted cheater and neither he nor Saxo should have anyplace in Cycling.

2 grand tours taken away from his results, a large fine, and he can't race until the vuelta, how is that getting off light?

And why should a entire team (from dirctors to mechanics to riders) have to suffer and lose their job, just as the seasons is starting, because it took so long to finish the investigation of their top rider. Plus he failed the test when he was with Astana not Saxo.

 

[BYOP88]

2 grand tours taken away from his results, a large fine, and he can't race in until the vuelta, how is that getting off light?

And why should a entire team (from dirctors to mechanics to riders) have to suffer and lose their job, just as the seasons is starting, because it took so long to finish the investigation of their top rider.

As a guess, because Old&slow is a fan of a certain retired rider.

 

[FreeWheelin]

IMO the UCI should not take away a licence mid seasons unless that TEAM is proven to be involved in doping (not just an individual rider). Obviously SB are going to have to somehow gain enough points to make the top 15 next year without Contador's points... but if they are aggressive enough and get a few good buys for next season they should be right. Even if they are not top 15 but are still top 20, given their history (and assuming Saxo Bank re-sign after saying they still support Riis and Contador 100%), they should be able to get one of the remaining 3 licences.

However, given the fact that it will be 2 years before Contador can accumulate points again, it will be a challenge for SB (or whatever team he rides for). They will have to have him riding for others in WT races for points and ride for himself in GT's for sponsorship glory. This will all mean that Contador's market value must be dramatically decreased, giving SB room on their budget to buy some WT points.

 

[leftover pie]

So apparently UCI will review the SaxoBank WT license because the conditions has changed and there is a possibility of losing the WT status for the Saxo team.

lose WT license, win the 2010 tour de france!

what a topsy turvy week for saxo bank eh?

 

[Nicosix]

IMO the UCI should not take away a licence mid seasons unless that TEAM is proven to be involved in doping (not just an individual rider). Obviously SB are going to have to somehow gain enough points to make the top 15 next year without Contador's points... but if they are aggressive enough and get a few good buys for next season they should be right. Even if they are not top 15 but are still top 20, given their history (and assuming Saxo Bank re-sign after saying they still support Riis and Contador 100%), they should be able to get one of the remaining 3 licences.

However, given the fact that it will be 2 years before Contador can accumulate points again, it will be a challenge for SB (or whatever team he rides for). They will have to have him riding for others in WT races for points and ride for himself in GT's for sponsorship glory. This will all mean that Contador's market value must be dramatically decreased, giving SB room on their budget to buy some WT points.

Yes but without Contador's points, they are out of the top 20. Therefore you get the problem and that's why the UCI wants to review their license.

Saxo would have been 23rd between Colnago and Skil.
When you think of it, the only team which could get Saxo's place is Europcar since Skil doesn't match the first 20 spots

Here is today's ranking :
UCI unofficial ranking

 

[Sophistic]

Riis isnt gonna have the money to resign Cont AND sign new riders who will bring in enough points for 2013. Aside from that, the UCI has to take away Saxos WT status for 2012, if Scarponi and Schleck get their wins, why shouldnt Europcar move up the spot now that Contis results are invalid?

 

[FreeWheelin]

Yes but without Contador's points, they are out of the top 20. Therefore you get the problem and that's why the UCI wants to review their license.

Saxo would have been 23rd between Colnago and Skil.
When you think of it, the only team which could get Saxo's place is Europcar since Skil doesn't match the first 20 spots

Here is today's ranking :
UCI unofficial ranking

Ok... I was going off the story on the main page.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contadors-ban-may-affect-whole-of-saxo-bank

However, since Contador was responsible for better than half of Saxo Bank's value toward its 2012 WorldTour license, and he has been stripped of those results, the UCI can now, under its own rules, reconsider the team's inclusion in this year's WorldTour. Without Contador's points, the team would have been 18th.

@Sophistic As I said in my post above, with no WT points and no ability to gain any for two years Contador's market value will tumble, freeing up room in the budget.