The top level of professional cycling has been through the rough this season. A number of high profile doping cases have shaken the sport and dragged it through the deepest mud imaginable. The conclusion of the Lance Armstrong case resulted in a multitude of bans, temporary and permanent, and even that case surely has some surprises to come yet.

But all is not lost. Despite a noticeable number of sponsor withdrawals, no teams are going to disappear. Rabobank have left the sport as a named sponsor, despite still paying some of the teams costs. They will be replaced by Philips as main title of that squad. Radioshack-Leopard have been in real trouble following the USADA investigation and are being replaced by Mtn Dew-CNET. Vacanseoleil and DCM couldn't take another image blow and dropped out, with Airbus and DHL picking up the pieces. Finally AG2R had to drop out under growing financial strains. They are the only team yet to announce the new sponsor, but there is one in place.

And for the future of the sport the UK is stepping in. Following the major success over the last few seasons, Team Sky are setting up a Development Squad at Continental level, in much the same way Rabobank did. To top that, Africa get's its first Pro-Continental team in the shape of MTN-Qhubeka.

But with all this there will be no new teams added to the World Tour, which bitterly disappoints Argos-Shimano. The team of Kittel and Degenkolb will have to wait another season before getting the full chance to prove themselves.

Finally there is a change to the World Tour schedule. Under growing financial pressures the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya will no longer be held as a World Tour event. It will be shortened to 5 days and downgraded to .HC. Taking its place will be a new American race. Details are yet to be confirmed but it will be the same length of time as Catalunya was and will take its date slot on the calendar.