Matt Prior's ONE Pro Cycling given UCI Pro Continental tour licence
Monday 9 November 2015 11:14, UK
Former England cricketer Matt Prior’s ONE Pro Cycling team will step up to the sport’s second tier in 2016 after being given a UCI Pro Continental licence.
The squad was set up by Prior only a year ago but enjoyed a successful first season on the third-tier UCI Continental tour in 2015, racing mainly in Britain.
The promotion means ONE Pro Cycling are now eligible to receive invites to the world's biggest races, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
Prior said: "We're incredibly excited to finally have confirmation that ONE Pro Cycling will be racing on a Pro Conti licence in 2016. It's been a whirlwind journey from when we first initially decided to set up the team to then get to where we are now.
"As most people will know, we're an ambitious team and, after a strong debut season racing in Britain, we were in no doubt of where we wanted to be next season."
ONE Pro Cycling will have 20 riders on their roster next year after 12 signings were made this autumn, with Milan-San Remo in 2011 winner Matthew Goss being the highest-profile acquisition.
ONE Pro Cycling are unlikely to figure in the Grand Tours in 2016, but Prior believes it could be possible from 2017 onwards.
