The UCI has put a definitive end to the licence controversy with a decision that directly affects cases like, among others, Carlos Verona’s. The international body has made it clear that riders must process their licence in the country where they reside, shutting the door on alternatives such as registering in their country of origin.
A ruling that reinforces the position of the Andorran Cycling Federation and leaves no room for the workaround some professionals had explored amid the dispute.
In the midst of a standoff with the Andorran federation, Verona chose to process his licence in Spain, a decision he framed as a matter of personal consistency after disagreements over the new financial terms imposed in Andorra.
However, the UCI’s statement invalidates such manoeuvres. The rule is clear: the decisive criterion is residency, regardless of a rider’s nationality. This reading backs the Andorran body and removes support for those who had opted for that alternative path.
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How the dispute began
Everything was triggered by changes pushed through by the federation, which initially proposed a refundable deposit of more than €8,000 as a guarantee against potential doping cases. The measure, widely opposed in the peloton, was eventually turned into a higher licence fee that doubled the cost.
Verona was among the most vocal critics of the process, questioning both substance and method. His discontent, part of a broader unease among riders based in Andorra, led him to distance himself from the federation’s management.
Carlos Verona, rider for Lidl-Trek.
UCI strengthens the federation’s hand
Far from allowing room for interpretation, the UCI has reaffirmed that the requirement to process a licence in the country of residence remains fully in force. In addition, the body has validated all licences already issued for the 2026 season, including those managed under the previous system.
The review also revealed that more than a dozen professionals residing in Andorra were not even registered with the local federation, a situation now under scrutiny following the international decision.
Case closed, message delivered
With this ruling, the UCI not only closes the controversy but also sends a direct message to the peloton: there is no leeway to choose where to take out a licence based on convenience.
For riders like Verona, the landscape changes entirely. The rule no longer admits interpretation: whoever lives in a country must compete under that country’s licence.
The UCI’s ruling marks a significant victory for smaller national federations. For years, the Andorran Cycling Federation provided a 'low-friction' environment for the world's elite, but as the population of pro riders in the principality swelled to over 100, the infrastructure and anti-doping costs became unsustainable under the old fee structure.
By backing the federation's right to double its fees and require anti-doping deposits, the UCI is signaling that pro riders can no longer treat their residency purely as a tax-saving exercise. They must contribute to the cycling ecosystem of the country where they actually train and live, regardless of the cost relative to their home nation.
UCI License Rule FAQ:
- Rule: License must match country of residence.
- Impacted Riders: Carlos Verona and ~12 other pros living in Andorra.
- Penalty for Non-Compliance: Potential suspension or invalidation of race results.
- Effective Date: Immediate/Enforced for the 2026 season.
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