'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Paris, Dec 12 (IANS)
French cycling team Europcar have been stripped of their World Tour status by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and are in danger of losing out on a place in the famous Tour de France. The team, which was given World Tour status for the 2014 season, might miss next year's Tour de France if not given a wildcard, reports Xinhua. It is losing its main title sponsor at the end of the 2015 season and the sports governing body is concerned that the team does not have the necessary finances in order to compete in the season.
"Concerning Europcar, the License Commission has decided to reject the team's request for registration for the 2015 season. The License Commission estimates that the team does not fulfill the financial criteria," the UCI told a press statement.
"The UCI will be able to evaluate the possibility of registering the team as a UCI Professional Continental team. In accordance with the UCI regulations, the registration refusal leads to the withdrawal of the UCI WorldTour license," it added.
Europcar are expected to start the 2015 season as a pro continental team.
