The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced today that Team Argos-Shimano has been granted a World Tour licence. The team has satisfied sporting, ethical, financial and administrative criteria to achieve this, and will hold the licence for the next four years, thereby assuring it of participation in all competitions at the highest level during that period. This is the international cycling team’s reward for its consistently-applied policy based on a progressive concept with proven results.
Progressive concept
Iwan Spekenbrink, general manager of Team Argos-Shimano, says the World Tour licence is the result of hard work by a talented, united and dedicated group of staff and riders. “Team Argos-Shimano represents an innovative and modern top sport project, in which we take the responsibility of coaching our talented athletes totally and in all respects; a method that has been successful in other sports and will undoubtedly be applied elsewhere in cycling.” Cycling experience and a great deal of expertise and knowledge from outside cycling are all fundamental to the team’s structure. Based on the process-oriented 1t4i principle (team spirit – inspiration – integrity – improvement – innovation), which is directed at improving both individuals and the team, the riders’ physical and mental talents are linked to intensive modern coaching, a method that has been shown to be effective.
“This World Tour licence is a reward for the combination of a strong group of riders and innovative coaching staff, who have managed to get into the World Tour through their own efforts. It’s greatly satisfying to work with a team that’s growing mainly through developing itself. The granting of this licence is also certainly what our faithful sponsors deserve. They have enabled us to achieve this and really believe in using a sustainable policy like ours in building a top sporting organisation. The World Tour licence puts us in position to consistently continue our policy in the next few years and so keep on growing”, says Spekenbrink.
