The UCI has immediately suspended all Russian and Belarusian teams, including Gazprom-Rusvelo, from competing following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement released Tuesday evening, the UCI said that Russian and Belarusian cyclists riding for teams from outside Russia and Belarus would still be allowed to compete. However, the UCI added that "all emblems, names, acronyms, flags and anthems associated with Russia and Belarus are prohibited in all events on the UCI international calendar."

The UCI announcement came after the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board recommended Monday that international sports federations and organizers "not invite or permit athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions."

The UCI Administrative Commission held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to outline its response to the IOC's recommendation; the UCI's decision means that Russia's UCI professional team, Gazprom Rusvelo, its continental team, Vozlozhdeny, and its track team, the Marathon Tula cycling team were expelled from the competition.

The Belarusian continental teams CCN Factory Racing and Minsk Cycling Club were also expelled, along with the Russian and Belarusian national teams.

Gazprom-Rusvelo was scheduled to compete in Wednesday's Trofeo Laiglia, but the team's bike and wheel suppliers, Look and Colima, had already withdrawn their support for the team sponsored by Russia's state energy community Gazprom.

The Australian Cycling Federation (AusCycling) had already banned the Russian and Belarusian teams from competing in this year's road world championships in September.

"The UCI welcomes the strong decision taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on February 28 to apply the ban to cycling.

"The UCI, which remains a politically neutral organization, deplores the potential impact of the government's decision on athletes from Russia and Belarus, but must stand firm in defending Olympic values."

When contacted by Cyclingnews on Tuesday, the UCI did not indicate whether the Russian oligarch and UCI Management Committee member Igor Makarov would have any input into the governing body's deliberations over Russia's response to the invasion of Ukraine.

International soccer federations FIFA and UEFA were the first sporting bodies to ban Russian teams "until further notice," meaning that Russia will likely miss the 2022 Men's World Cup and Women's Euro 2022.

Cycling followed suit, with the UCI announcing action against Russian and Belarusian cycling, confirming that the UCI will not immediately allow Russian and Belarusian national and trade teams to compete in UCI events and that all Russian and Belarusian events have been withdrawn from the 2022 UCI international calendar.

In addition to the Moscow Olympics and the Grand Prix of Moscow and St. Petersburg track events, the UCI Gran Fondo World Series in May has been cancelled and the Russian and Belarusian national championships have been removed from the calendar.

In addition, there will be non-consideration of bids from Russian and Belarusian candidates for UCI events, a ban on the appointment of Russian and Belarusian commissaires at UCI events, and a ban on inviting club, regional, and mixed teams from both countries to UCI events.

The ban on the national emblem, flag and anthem means that Russian time trial champion Alexander Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) cannot wear the national champion jersey.

Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers), Alexandr Liabushenko (UAE Team Emirates), Alena Amiariushk (Canyon Slam), Maria Novorodskaia, Alena Ivanchenko (UAE Team ADQ), Tamara Doronova, Diana Klimova (Laurent Cogeas Edelweiss) and other road riders may continue to compete.

Individual riders from banned Russian and Belarusian teams may also be allowed to compete "if individual registration is permitted." Riders with multiple nationalities will be able to apply to change their sporting nationality, and the UCI registration rules could be changed to allow in-season transfers.

"The UCI would like to clarify that Russian and Belarusian license holders are allowed to participate in UCI International Calendar events with their respective teams, provided they are registered with a UCI team that is neither Russian nor Belarusian. Riders from Russia and Belarus may also participate in UCI International Calendar events if they are allowed to register individually."

"Furthermore, the UCI Administration has decided to introduce a special rule allowing Russian and Belarusian license holders with multiple nationalities to apply for a change of sporting nationality without any restrictions. It will be possible to speed up the procedure regarding this measure, which already exists in the UCI Regulations."

"Specific measures will be considered with a view to allowing riders and staff of Russian and Belarusian teams to register with UCI teams that are neither Russian nor Belarusian outside the registration period." [

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The UCI statement concludes by noting that sponsorship of professional teams by Russian and Belarusian brands and companies will no longer be authorized.

"Such sponsorship will not be authorized as it would damage the image of the UCI and cycling in general. Teams and event organizers are therefore requested not to give any visibility to Russian or Belarusian sponsors in events on the UCI international calendar.

"For clarification, all measures apply immediately to both Russia and Belarus and extend to all categories and disciplines. These measures will remain in effect until further notice."

"The UCB has requested that the UCB provide the Russian Federation with a copy of the UCB's UCB Policy on the UCB's website.

The UCI added that it will issue further guidance on the measures in the coming days, noting that "as the situation in Ukraine develops, the UCI position may also change."