According to RCS Sports, organizers of the Giro d’Italia, eight Pro Continental teams have applied for three available wildcard positions for next year’s race.
The eight teams that are vying for the positions are, Bardiani Valavole-CSF Inox, Caja Rural-RGA, Team Colombia, IAM Cycling, MTN-Qhubeka, Team NetApp-Endura, Team Novo Nordisk and UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team.
Unfortunately, the Yellow Fluo team (formerly the Vini Fantini team) was not included in the list of potential teams. Many suggest, that the team is being excluded based on the fact that two of it’s riders, Danilo di Luca and Mauro Santambrogio, both tested positive for doping at this year’s Giro.
Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox is hedging to repeat it’s 2013 participation., as well as team Colombia, despite losing it’s high profile riders like Esteban Chaves and Darwin Atapuma.
Additionally, MTN-Qhubeka appears to stand a very good chance to gain a position for it’s first Grand Tour debut. The African Pro Continental team received wildcards from race organizers for it’s success in races this year such as Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico and Il Lombardia; particularly for Gerlad Ciolek’s victory in Milan-San Remo.
The Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela team was previously awarded the fourth slot for it’s victory in this year’s Coppa Italia.
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