Cycling: The German second division team Bora-Argon 18 has big goals – as team manager Ralph Denk said at the current training camp in Mallorca, they want a WorldTour license by 2017. Just in time for the Tour de France guest performance in Germany and Düsseldorf. However, the necessary small change is still missing.
Team boss Denk was surprisingly talkative to the German press agency and gave insights into the future planning of Bora-Argon 18. The ProContinental team, which was only launched last season, is already aiming for the WorldTour license for the coming year. One reason for this should undoubtedly also be the Grand Depart in Dusseldorf be where you would of course be only too happy to start as a member of the highest racing class - even if the Tour then slows down the conflict between ASO and UCI will no longer be a WorldTour event.
However, the time for the project is short – the details should be clarified by September at the latest. Especially in financial terms, the shoe pinches. The current team budget should be at least doubled: "WorldTour teams calculate an average of around 13,5 million euros per season," says think. Current sponsor Bora seems keen to support the plans, as Denk reports: "Our current sponsor is willing to make a bigger contribution." However, another donor would definitely be needed in order to be able to meet the requirements of the UCI. "We are talking to German interested parties," However, Denk does not want to let his cards be looked at in this regard.
Another problem could be the WorldTour licenses, which are only available to a limited extent: this season, for example, all 18 licenses have already been taken. An increase in the licenses was discussed again and again by the UCI, but there was no news in this regard. With the 2017 WorldTour reforms the licenses are issued for three years - this would guarantee planning security for the team, sponsors and drivers alike.
The face of the team is unlikely to change fundamentally with the highest license class. With Emanuel Buchmann and Dominik Nerz, two highly talented perspective drivers have been signed, who could play an important role in the overall rankings at the Grand Tours in the future and are also important identification figures for the German fans (To the Velomotion double interview). In addition, the young Irishman Sam Bennett is always good for a sprint win.
So the conditions are good - we would certainly be delighted to welcome a second German team to the WorldTour.
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