Sooner that it was originally expected, after long debates RCS Sport announced today teams that were granted wildcard invitations to events organized by the company, Giro d’Italia being the most important one.

The highly anticipated verdict, encouraged by the votes of cycling fans via social media, was announced today and saw Team Colombia, Bardiani CSF and Yellow Fluo being chosen over MTN Qhubeka, Caja Rural, United Healthcare and IAM Cycling to participate in the Giro d’Italia alongside Androni Giocattoli as the Italian Cup winners, and 18 World Tour formidable squads.  

Despite a very fierce competition, strongly supported by their fans Team Colombia was expected to receive an invitation after their impressive performance in last year’s edition of the Giro d’Italia, then their riders animated most of its mountainous stages.

Granting a wildcard to the Yellow Fluo team, previously known as Vini Fantini-Selle Italia has to raise some eyebrows, though, after two of their riders were involved into doping scandals during the last edition of the race.

RCS Sport said in a statement: "The choices made, especially for the wild cards of the Giro d'Italia, were dictated by the opportunity - at this moment in history - to support the Italian cycling movement, without ever losing sight of the goal of international development." 
 

Apart from the Italian Grand Tour, wildcard for other World Tour events organized by RCS Sport were announced, particularly Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo and Il Lombardia.

Bardiani CSF, MTN-Qhubeka, IAM Cycling and NetApp-Endura will all take part in Tirreno-Adriatico over March 12-18.

Androni Giocattoli, Bardiani CSF, IAM Cycling, MTN-Qhubeka, NetApp-Endura, UnitedHealthCare and Yellow Fluo will attend Milan-San Remo on March 23.

Caja Rural gets a look in for Il Lombardia on October 5, along with fellow wildcards Androni Giocattoli, Bardiana CSF, Colombia, IAM Cycling, NetApp-Endura and Yellow Fluo.