Just in: Euskaltel bag licence

The International Cycling Union tonight announced that Euskaltel have been allocated one of the three remaining WorldTour-licences up for grabs, meaning the team will once again form part of professional cycling's elite in 2012.

Euskaltel, Francaise des Jeux and Ag2r - La Mondiale were awarded the licences, meaning Bernaudau's Europcar outfit came up short. Geox-TMC naturally retracted their application once their eponymous sponsor pulled out towards the end of October.

2012 WorldTour teams: Ag2r - La Mondiale, Astana, BMC, FDJ, Euskaltel, Garmin - Cervélo, Katusha, Lampre - ISD, Liquigas - Cannondale, Lotto - Belisol, Movistar, Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, Rabobank, Saxo Bank - Sungard, Sky, Vacansoleil - DCM. (The UCI are awaiting RadioShack and GreenEdge to send over additional documents, but their 2012 WorldTour-status is not believed to be at stake.)