Despite the UCI releasing a statement earlier this week saying that Neri-Sottoli’s Pro Continental licence is under review and they have been removed from the MPCC, the Italian team is remaining confident.

“I don’t know what the Giro d’Italia organizer will do now that we are not in the MPCC,” general manager Angelo Citracca told VeloNews. “Even if we don’t race the Giro, though, we will continue as a team.”

Technically, as the winners of the Coppa Italia event this year, Neri Sottoli should have an automatic inclusion in the Giro, but RCS have the right to refuse the winner entry on ethical grounds, which many believe the team has broken after a positive test for Matteo Rabottini this year and two positives last year, from Mauro Santambrogio and Danilo Di Luca.

“Remember, he (Rabottini) is still waiting the counter-analysis of his B sample,” Citracca said. “The MPCC is making decisions based on riders who are not officially positive.”

“I’m still hopeful for an invitation,” Citracca said. “We won the Coppa Italia, and we follow the UCI’s rules, really the only rules that should matter.”

Citracca criticized the MPCC, saying everyone should just follow the UCI’s rules rather than the MPCC’s, as not all team’s are members of the MPCC.

“The MPCC should be looked at. We joined the group because we felt we had to, but really, we pay our money to the UCI and we should just be following its rules,” Citracca said.

“We will have to see what the Giro organizer does. I don’t think it will change our racing plans much for 2015, maybe just cause us problems for the French races.”