Uno-X manager admits the team would be interested to take over available World Tour license in case of Visma-Soudal merger

A possible merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step means that one WorldTour license could become available. A number of teams are eligible for this, including Uno-X from Norway with Danish influences. Team manager Jens Haugland confirms to WielerFlits that he is interested in taking over that license.

He is closely monitoring the situation. "My answers are hypothetical. I haven't seen an official announcement yet so I don't want to speculate. But it is certain that our ambitions lie in the WorldTour."

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Haugland believes that his team is ready for the step up. "100%. Last year we already applied for a WorldTour license. The only reason why we did not receive it is because we had not achieved enough points in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 UCI rankings. As a result, we did not meet the sporting criteria. But we passed all other audits – financial, ethics, administration and organization – with flying colors. In all honesty, I also think that we are already operating at WorldTour level. Just look at our Tour de France."

Uno-X would like to take over the license from Soudal Quick-Step. "But on our terms. We only take over the license without any obligations. So we are not going to take over a paying agent who already has a structure of riders and staff. That's not natural for us at all. We have our own system, our own structure, which we have built ourselves. We will never take the risk of changing our identity based on an available license. But the WorldTour was and is our ambition. We also demonstrate this with our acquisitions."

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This includes Andreas Leknessund and Magnus Cort. Uno-X has now registered 29 riders for next season. This means that there is still a spot available if Danes such as Kasper Asgreen and Casper Pedersen come onto the market. "Then I first have to go to the bank to borrow money," laughs Haugland. "The question is whether we will fill that last spot. But I have to remain humble, because every Dane or Norwegian who rides in the WorldTour is interesting to us. We limit ourselves to this geography."

The Norwegian team manager is therefore open to the WorldTour license, but also believes that other teams have an advantage over Uno-X. "I would be surprised if Lotto Dstny and Israel-Premier Tech would waive the license that would become available. Their ambitions to return to the highest level are of course still there. In addition, there are interesting structures at the ProTeams, such as Tudor Pro Cycling and Q36.5 Pro Cycling. Just like our ambitious projects, each in its own way. We will see, there are many unanswered questions."

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