The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body of cycling, categorises teams into three divisions. The top 18 teams are the UCI WorldTeams and compete in the UCI World Tour. The second and third divisions respectively are the Professional Continental teams and the Continental teams.
The teams compete in the UCI Continental Circuits, which are divided into five continental zones: Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. They also win points in the UCI World Ranking. Professional Continental teams are also invited to participate in events in the UCI World Tour, although they are not eligible to win points in the World Tour rankings.
List of 2018 UCI Professional Continental teams edit
According to the UCI Rulebook,[1]
"a professional continental team is an organisation created to take part in road events open to professional continental teams. It is known by a unique name and registered with the UCI in accordance with the provisions below.
- The professional continental team comprises all the riders registered with the UCI as members of the team, the paying agent, the sponsors and all other persons contracted by the paying agent and/or the sponsors to provide for the continuing operation of the team (manager, team manager, coach, paramedical assistant, mechanic, etc.).
- Each professional continental team must employ at least 14 riders, 2 team managers and 3 other staff (paramedical assistants, mechanics, etc.) on a full time basis for the whole registration year."
- Soul Brasil Pro Cycling did not return to the UCI Professional Continental ranks for the 2018 season.
List of 2018 UCI Continental teams edit
References edit
- ^ "UCI Rulebook – Part 2 Road Races, 24.01.2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ^ a b "Teams - ProCyclingStats". www.procyclingstats.com.