Plantur-Pura applies for Women’s WorldTeam license

Plantur-Pura, the sister team of the Alpecin-Deceuninck, has revealed that it applied for WorldTeam license on Tuesday. The team currently races at the Continental level.

“We have applied for a WorldTour license. We think this fits in the evolution of the team, as we already started up in 2020 with a clear vision to grow year by year,” general manager Philip Roodhooft told VeloNews. But he knows the competition is tough and chances are low “However, there is only one space left for 2023. Currently, we’re only the second continental team in the ranking – and we can’t get to the first position anymore – so, like all other teams, we depend on others.”

Roodhooft is ready to accept whatever decision UCI takes, but a positive outcome would be best. “Besides, the season is not over yet. We’ll see where we end up. Whatever the outcome, it is clear already now that we’ve taken another considerable step in 2022, which is the most important. We did so, thanks to some changes we’ve made after a rather disappointing 2021. But let it be clear: if the opportunity is there, we’ll take it with both hands,” concluded Roodhooft.

It is essential for Plantur-Pura to meet financial, administrative, ethical, and organizational criteria before proceeding. Then, in order to decide which team is the most successful, the UCI team standings will be taken into account. Plantur-Pura is currently ranked 12th in the team standings and is the second-ranked Continental team.