UCI announces provisional 2016 teams lineup

The WorldTour is likely to stay at 17 teams in 2016, with a few name changes on the way.

Gateway to the Alps... Stage 16 brings the peloton to Gap. (AFP) Source: AFP

The UCI has released the list of teams applying for WorldTeam and Pro Continental status in 2016, and it looks like there will be little change at the top.

No new teams have applied to enter the top echelon of the sport in 2016, with the total number of WorldTeams remaining at 17. In fact, the main difference seems to be cosmetic, with Cannondale-Garmin and Tinkoff-Saxo simpifying their names to Cannondale Pro Cycling and Tinkoff respectively.

Name changes are also in evidence at the Pro Continental level, With MTN-Qhubeka becoming Team Dimension Data and Europcar becoming Direct Energie. Bretagne-Seche Environement will also be renamed Fortuneo-Vital.

Continental teams looking to step up to Pro Continental level include Delko Marseille-Provence KTM and Swiss team Roth-Skoda.

Notably absent from the Pro Continential list is Drapac Pro Cycling. It is as yet unknown whether the team is not seeking Pro Continental status or has simply yet to file an application.

UCI WorldTeam applicants

Ag2r La Mondiale

Astana

BMC Racing

Cannondale Pro Cycling

Etixx-Quickstep

FDJ

Giant-Alpecin

IAM Cycling

Katusha

Lampre-Merida

Lotto-Soudal

LottoNL-Jumbo

Movistar

Orica-GREENEDGE

Team Sky

Tinkoff

Trek Factory Racing

UCI Professional Continental Team applicants

Androni-Giocattoli

Bardiani-CSF

Bora-Argon 18

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA

CCC Sprandi Polkowice

Cofidis

Cult Energy-Stolting Group

Delko Marseille Provence KTM

Direct Energie

Dimension Data

Fortuneo-Vital Concept

Nippo-Vini Fantini

Novo Nordisk

Roompot Oranje Peloton

Roth-Skoda

Rusvelo

Tharcor

Topsort Vlaanderen-Baloise

UnitedHealthcare

Wanty-Group Gobert