Seventeen team have been confirmed by cycling governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale has having applied for World Tour licences for the 2015 season.
AG2R La Mondiale, Astana, Lampre-Merida, Lotto Soudal, Movistar, Orica GreenEdge, Team Europcar, Giant-Alpecin, Team Katusha and Team Sky already have a licence to race in World Tour events in 2015, with BMC Racing, Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (former from Garmin-Sharp and Cannondale), Etixx - Quick Step, FDJ, Team Lotto NL (Belkin) Tinkoff-Saxo and Trek Factory Racing all having applied for licences for which they have to give financial guarantees and certain other requirements.
There is still one licence available and it is understood that both African team MTN Qhubeka and Swiss team IAM Cycling are both interested, although both have applied for Professional Continental licences in the case of them not being successful when the World Tour licenses are announced on November 3rd.
Seventeen teams have also applied for second division Professional Continental licences. They are Androni, Bardiani CSF, Bora – Argon 18 (currently known as Netapp), Bretagne Seche Environment, Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, CCC, Cofidis Solutions Credits, Cult Energy Pro Cycling, Drapac Professional Cycling, Nippo - Vini Fantini, Roompot Orange Cycling Team, Rusvelo, Team Novo Nordisk, TopSport Vlaanderen, UnitedHealthCare Professional Cycling Team, Wanty Groupe Gobert and Yellow Fluo