The International Cycling Union (UCI) has decided not to publish any official list of teams accepted in the professional continential category and WorldTour category. That has usually been done after the final review of the auditors from Ernst & Young which ended on October 31.

That decision does not mean that teams do not know whether they have been accepted or not. The UCI itself has told all WorldTour teams and pro continental teams about their status after examining the dossier of auditors Ernst & Young.

That explains why som teams such as Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Funvic Soul Cycles Carrefour, Androni and Delko Marseille have already informed through their website and social networks that they have received a positive response from the UCI and therefore are ready for the professional continental category. All others have received a positive or negative response from the union.

The teams that have failed the test of Ernst & Young will have to appear before the License Commission where they can achieve their license. This new process will not end until late November (between November 23 and December 11), so it is expected that the UCI will delay the official final list until December.

If all candidates finally make the cut in Switzerland, 17 WorldTour teams and 24 Professional Continental teams will make up the pro peloton in 2017. One of the questions is whether Dimension Data (known as MTN-Qhubeka in 2015) will make the jump to the WorldTour which directly affects the invitations to the Grand Tours. There is room for 18 WorldTour teams and the UCI may ask the South Africans to fill the vacant spot.

In the Second Division, it remains to be seen whether Active Jet, One Pro Cycling and Roth-Skoda are accepted and can be added to the other two new teams that have already been confirmed, Delko Marseill and Funvic Soul Carrefour. After Team Colombia's demise, that would lead to an increase in the number of pro continental teams from 20 to 24.