Team Geox-TMC and Cofidis fail to obtain ProTeam status; ProTeam status awarded to Team BMC Racing, Euskaltel-Euskadi, HTC-High Road, Liquigas-Cannondale, Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project (Team Leopard Racing), Team Movistar, Team Astana, and Vacansoleil-DCM.

Former winner Carlos Sastre and last year's third-place finisher Denis Menchov likely will have to rely on a wild card to race in the 2011 Tour de France after their Geox-TMC team missed out on elite status in 2011.

French team Cofidis also missed the cut as the International Cycling Union selected the 18 ProTeam squads for 2011.

The new Team Leopard Racing (Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project), including Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck, was registered in the elite eightteen, along with American teams RadioShack, Garmin-Cervelo and HTC-Highroad.

The UCI said Team Geox-TMC and Cofidis get "professional continental" status, meaning they require an invitation to events such as the Tour, Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta.

2011 UCI ProTeams:
AG2R (FRA)
Team Garmin-Cervélo (USA)
Team Katusha (RUS)
Lampre-LSD (ITA)
Omega Pharma-Lotto (BEL)
Team QuickStep (BEL)
Team Rabobank (NED)
Saxo Bank-SunGard (DEN)
Team Sky Pro Cycling (GBR)
Team RadioShack (USA)
Team BMC Racing (USA)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
HTC-HighRoad (USA)
Liquigas-Cannondale (ITA)
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project (Team Leopard Racing) (LUX)
Team Movistar (ESP)
Team Astana (KAZ)
Vacansoleil-DCM (NED)