Santa Rosa, 2009-01-29

During the final few days of the BMC training camp last week, Gavin Chilcott needed to make a flying visit to Switzerland. Having once again applied for Wild Card status for the coming racing season, Chilcott represented BMC at the UCI License Commission hearing which the UCI held to discuss the teams’ qualifications.

“We are a Professional Continental team, but Professional Continental teams require the Wild Card Label in order to be eligible for Pro Tour events,” Chilcott clarified. “The UCI License Commission grants this status based upon an evaluation of the team in terms of administrative, sporting, anti-doping and multiple other parameters.” During this process the UCI establishes whether a given Professional Continental team is operated at a level that is consistent with the standards of the Pro Tour, albeit with a smaller calendar and potentially smaller overall team roster.

Entry into Biological Passport is key

“I feel as though the hearing went well and I am optimistic that they will decide in our favor,” Chilcott explained. The team’s continued commitment to participating in the UCI’s Biological Passport program is an essential ingredient to racing at the Pro Tour level. “We declared our commitment to the biological passport program which is not something that all Pro Continental teams do,” Chilcott said. Aside from the team’s commitment to clean racing, the clear goal is to race Pro Tour level events. “As the only US ProContinental team this year, we’re on a short list of US teams that will be racing in big European events,” Chilcott explained. “We want to be at the Tours of Romandie and Switzerland again this year, and we also want to increase the number of large European races we are invited to.” Chilcott believes the team is already functionally upholding a very high set of standards that are consistent with participation along side Pro Tour teams. Having earned the Wild Card status in 2008, the team is determined to continue growing and improving in 2009.