The
UCI's list of WorldTeams, released last month, showed that
Team DSM was granted a license for only one year, in contrast to the other teams.
The UCI's decision to grant the team a license for only a single season was a consequence of the team's inability to furnish financial statements, which was a direct result of the ongoing merger proceedings between their sponsor and Firmenich, a Swiss-based conglomerate that specialises in the production and distribution of fragrances and flavours.