The teams who have the licences can enter teams in the major races in the cycling calendar.
Ten teams already had approved licences for the 2011 season and they are AG2R, Garmin-Cervélo, Katusha, Lampre-ISD, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Rabobank, Saxo Bank-SunGard, Sky ProCycling and Team RadioShack.
Eight others had to apply for a new licence or have their current one renewed and they are BMC Racing Team, Euskaltel-Euskadi, HTC-Highroad, Liguigas-Cannondale, Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project, Movistar Team, Astana and Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team.
This was not a rubber-stamping exercise and the Geox-TMC team from Spain and the French Cofidis Le Crédit en ligne were refused a pro-team licence but were automatically registered as a Pro Continental team which can enter riders in some races.