UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS  For the period 2020-2022, up to two additional UCI WorldTour licences may be issued  in the event existing UCI WorldTeams fulfil the sporting criterion via article 2.15.011b,  without prejudice to other applicable conditions.  If less than 18 teams are registered as UCI WorldTeams (following procedures for the  award of licenses or annual registration), the Professional Cycling Council decides if and  when the available licences can be allocated. Any such allocation shall, in principle, not  take place, before the end of the following season.  (text modified on 12.01.17; 5.02.19; 8.02.21).  2.15.010 A licence may be issued to an applicant fulfilling all the conditions set out in the  regulations.  Any team wishing to apply for a UCI WorldTour licence must be registered as a  UCI WorldTeam or a UCI ProTeam at the time of the application.  (text modified on 5.02.19)  2.15.011 The licence commission awards licences on the basis of the following criteria:  - ethical;  - financial;  - administrative;  - organisational.  If the number of candidate teams (UCI WorldTeams and UCI ProTeams) that meet the  criteria set out above is greater than the number of licences available, the applicants will  be subject to the application of the sporting criterion in accordance with articles  2.15.011a.  In order to obtain a UCI WorldTour licence, applicants must fulfil each of the applicable  criteria.  (text modified on 12.01.17; 5.02.19; 8.02.21).  2.15.011  The sporting criterion is evaluated with regard to the UCI world ranking for men  a UCI teams – 3 years, as defined in article 2.10.044.  Criteria  The 18 top-ranked teams in the above-mentioned ranking, among the teams having  applied for a UCI WorldTour licence in accordance with articles 2.15.009 and 2.15.010  and having met the criteria defined in articles 2.15.011c to 2.15.011f, are deemed to  meet the sporting criterion  (text modified on 1.07.11; 1.07.12; 27.03.14; 24.09.14; 1.01.15; 12.01.17; 1.07.17;  5.02.19; 23.10.19; 8.02.21).  2.15.011  [article abrogated on 11.02.20].  b  2.15.011  The ethical criterion takes account inter alia of the respect by the team or its members c  for:  A.  the UCI regulations, inter alia as regards anti-doping, sporting conduct and the  image of cycling;  E170421  ROAD RACES  191 