Swedish team Cycle Collstrop, formerly known as Unibet, has been granted a ProTour wild card by the International Cycling Union.

Unibet withdrew from the sport at the end of last season after being barred from entering several races, including the Tour de France, because of a French law against online betting.

"The Licence Commission awarded the 'wild card' label to the Swedish UCI professional continental team Cycle Collstrop (ex-Unibet.com) for a period of one year," the UCI said.

Under UCI regulations, Collstrop will have a guaranteed place in ProTour-labelled races such as the Tour of Flanders and the Amstel Gold Race.

Reuters