The UCI has officially denied Rock Racing a professional license after the team has failed to meet the criteria for approval. Rock Racing was first denied a Pro Continetal license by the UCI back in January, and thus they tried to get just a Continental license, but were denied that also.

Michael Ball is claiming that Rock Racing will not fold, but will continue as a amateur team. At this team there is only five riders still under contract with Rock Racing, they are Victor Hugo Pena, Oscar Sevilla, Francisco Mancebo, Glen Chadwick and Floyd Landis. It was rumored that it was Floyd Landis being on the roster that gave the UCI the motive to deny the license. Michael Ball stated that he “considered it and it was in the news but I think it harmed our chances with getting a pro continental license and a license in general for that matter.” “It is what it is and the UCI runs the sport and there comes a time when you have to give it up and understand the powers that be.”

“I’m sure there are a lot reasons why they didn’t give it to us,” he added. “Probably one of the mistakes I made was to consider Landis on the team. That really hurt our chances more than anything. I’ve learned more about this sport and that there are a lot of politics and hopefully we’ll be able to get things right.”

Pat McQuaid (UCI President) has strongly denied the allegations that Rock Racing’s license was denied for only political reasons. “I don’t know the details but I would say that’s pure bullshit,” McQuaid said. “I wasn’t involved in the decision but that wouldn’t be a reason. That’s all bullshit.”

Ball is now going to field a team that will race as an amateur level squad. He is quoted as saying, “We won’t race as a professional team, that’s for sure.” “We’ll be racing as an amateur team. We still want to race. Unfortunately this rules us out of being at races like Tour of California which will be one that we’ll miss.”

“I can’t fault anybody who feels that Rock Racing shouldn’t be part of the sport, that’s unfortunate that they don’t get my message, which is to have something different, have some great athletes in the sport and frankly go out there and kick ass,” he added. “It’s all about racing and doing the best we could and frankly we crushed the competition.”