PARIS, Sept 18, 2009 (AFP) – New British cycling outfit Team Sky and French team AG2R were on Friday granted Pro Tour licenses, allowing them to compete in all of the sport’s big races as of next season, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced Friday.

The UCI said in a statement: “The License Commission, following an examination of applications, decided on 15 September to award UCI ProTour licenses to …. the French team Ag2r La Mondiale and the new British outfit Team Sky.

“Ag2r La Mondiale and Team Sky have been awarded licenses for three years (2010-2012) and four years (2010-2013) respectively.

“The License Commission will announce its decisions on other teams … that have applied for UCI ProTour licenses, or license extensions, in the near future.”

The Dutch-Japanese team Skil-Shimano earlier withdrew its application for a UCI ProTour licence, which teams must purchase, in the hope they will perform well enough in smaller races to warrant an invite to the bigger events.

Skil made their Tour de France debut earlier this year.

Team Sky will be run by Dave Brailsford, who was in charge of the British team which dominated the track cycling events at the Beijing Olympics last year where they won seven of the 10 gold medals on offer.