The German team Stölting Service Group has officially received a ProContinental license for the 2016 season. This was confirmed by Hans Mosbacher, head of Stölting Service Group, in an interview with radsport-news.com. "As a German company, we're starting 2016 with a German license," Mosbacher announced.

But the second division should only be a middle station en route to the highest division. "Our goal is to be in the first division in 2017,” Mosbacher announced confidently. The conditions are right, according to the 57-year-old: "Our internal structures and the team spirit are good. We have a solid foundation on which we can build."

Mosbach also sees the "best chance" for Team Stölting due to the Tour start in Dusseldorf in 2017. "To be there a professional team with a German company and a German license and even with a start at home in NRW would be sensational."

Much like Bora-Argon 18 which will also apply for a WorldTour license in 2017, the team needs the support of other sponsors in order to make the WorldTour project a reality. As in the case of Bora, the main sponsor is ready to increase its share of the finanzing. "If we can attract a financially strong sponsor to the team, the Stölting Service Group will naturally also increase its current sponsorship", said Mosbach who hopes to use the Tour start in his search.

"I think that the Tour de France is very attractive as an advertising platform. ARD will broadcast the entire race live. The combination of the media presence and the start of the Tour in Dusseldorf can be interesting for companies from the NRW region", said the Stölting boss before adding. “We can very well imagine and would be delighted to have a strong partner that pursues the same goals, at our side as a main or title sponsor."