Astana finally secure their ProTour licence

TOUR de France winner Alberto Contador has confirmed he will ride for Astana next season after they were finally awarded ProTour status.

POINT TO PROVE: Alberto Contador has confirmed he will ride for Astana in 2010 - after they finally received their ProTour licence (Getty Images)

The Kazakh-based team needed to provide cycling's world governing body with financial guarantees after running into cash problems during this year's Giro d'Italia.

Earlier this week, Lance Armstrong's new RadioShack team and British Cycling's Team Sky were both awarded their licences but Astana were made to sweat by the International Cycling Union.

However, all the paperwork has now been received, clearing the way for Contador to confirm his place as team leader.

"I will continue with Astana as we had expected," he said.

"I'm happy because it was time to resolve my future.

"Given the circumstances of the last few months, I think at the end of the day I've taken the best decision possible.

"The only thing I can guarantee now is I'll fight 100 percent for the Tour de France."