Dutch media: Kangert and Taaramäe's team will be refused World Tour license
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Astana, the club of Estonian cyclists Tanel Kangert and Rein Taaramäe, will be left without a World Tour license.
If proven true, the decision will mean Astana, which saw one of its riders win the Tour de France last year, will no longer automatically qualify for larger competitions and will have to hope for direct invites to tours.
Neither Tanel Kangert nor Rein Taaramäe are top riders at the club, but both are among the very best Estonian cyclists.
The reason for the move lies in doping scandals surrounding the club with five of its cyclists failing doping tests during a few month period last autumn.
Editor: J.M. Laats