Sep 30th, 09.

The Lampre team (Italy) has obtained a four-year license for the period 2010 to 2013, and the Milram team (Italy) has received a license for one year, valid for 2010.

The ProTour license guarantees these teams a start in the three Grand Tours - the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.

"That is very good news for us," said Gerry van Gerwen, General Manager of Team MILRAM.  "That gives us more security in our planning for the coming year. We can now continue developing the team at the highest level. And of course, as the only German team at the highest level, it is important that we be able to present ourselves in a fitting manner at the season's highlights."

On the other hand, the Commission has decided not to award a UCI ProTour license to the French teams Cofidis, le crédit en ligne and Bbox Bouygues Télécom.  There was no comment on the reasons for the decision.

Jean-Rene Bernaudeau, the general manager of Bbox Bouygues Telecom said that this decision should not unduly affect the functioning of the team.  He said the team believes it can still compete in the three Grand Tours as they are covered by an agreement signed in 2008 that extends till 2010.

"There will of course be some adjustments in our program. We set a course early in the season to be ready for the Tour Down Under, but we are now not certain to attend," he said.

"The UCI told us that our record was good but our sporting level was too low," he said whilst commenting on the irony that the team has had its best results in five years.

The UCI statement said they are continuing to examine the file submitted by the new American team RadioShack and it will announce its decision on this matter at a later date.

In the same statement, the UCI announced the Tour of Flanders (BEL) and the Amstel Gold Race (NED) have each obtained a four-year license for the period 2010-2013.