The TJ Sport team - known as Lampre-Merida this season - faces a race against time to secure a WorldTour licence for 2017, with riders and staff worried that previously announced funding from a consortium of Chinese backers may not materialise before a December 15 deadline.
Several riders and their agents have confirmed to Cyclingnews that the team has cancelled a planned December training camp. It seems the team’s Colnago bikes are ready to be delivered but most are still at the Colnago headquarters near Milan, while the team's clothing is still to be created by Hong Kong-based Champion System, which played a role in the takeover of the Lampre team managed by Giuseppe Saronni and former Saunier Duval manager Mauro Gianetti.
The riders and staff of the TJ Sport team gathered for a first get together in Italy in early November but are now worried about the future. If the team does not secure WorldTour status their contracts are not valid. Some may find places in other teams but likely with a much lower salary. Some riders and many of the staff on the 70-person team would struggle to find a job for 2017.
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Many of the riders on the team's 2017 roster remain under contract from the Lampre-Merida iteration, while TJ Sport re-signed Rui Costa, Diego Ulissi and Sacha Modolo. The team also added Ben Swift from Team Sky, Darwin Atapuma from BMC, Andrea Guardini from Astana, Vegard Stake Laengen from IAM Cycling and Marco Marcato from Wanty-Groupe Gobert.
On November 25 the UCI awarded 17 WorldTour licences to leading teams but said the TJ Sport team was still under review by the UCI Licence Commission. The TJ Sport team told Cyclingnews it had requested extra time to complete its application after a key person fell ill and sparked a delay in obtaining some documents from China. It added it was confident of soon completing its application.
However almost two weeks later it seems the final documents to secure WorldTour status are still missing, with a deadline of December 15 now looming. If Saronni and Gianetti fail to complete their registration the team could be forced to accept the lower Professional Continental status or fold completely.
- TJ Sport Consultation to take over Lampre-Merida's WorldTour licence
- Colnago confirmed as bike sponsor of Chinese TJ Sport team
- Project TJ Sport riders gather in Italy for first camp - Gallery
- UCI awards 17 WorldTour licences for 2017 but TJ Sports remain under review
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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