Astana will be 'test case' for UCI pro cycling reforms

Astana to undergo audit as stricter rules for top-level professional cycling teams will place responsibility on squads to look after their riders

Astana chases on stage eight of the 2014 Tour de France

(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Astana will be a guinea pig to test the UCI's reforms for 2017. After suffering five doping cases, the team agreed to an internal audit and a set of "operational requirements" in order to keep its WorldTour licence for 2015.

"They will have to comply to the [internal operational requirements], that most of the teams will have to follow in 2017," UCI President Brian Cookson told Cycling Weekly.

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Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.