Australia's first professional cycling team GreenEDGE and the United States-backed RadioShack-Nissan have completed the International Cycling Union's (UCI) 18-team roster for the elite WorldTour in 2012.

GreenEDGE, backed by Australian caravan tycoon Gerry Ryan, has been granted a WorldTour license for 2012-13, the UCI said in a statement.

RadioShack-Nissan, the result of a merger between RadioShack and Leopard-Trek, had had its registration approved for 2012, the UCI said on its website.

"This decision concludes the procedures for the registration, renewal and award of new UCI WorldTour licences," the UCI said.

GreenEDGE director Andrew Ryan says the decision is a landmark moment for Australian cycling.

"It's been a long ride, and now to have achieved the ultimate for Australian cycling, to have a ProTour team, it's really exciting," Ryan told the ABC.

"It's a great day for us and a great day for everyone."

GreenEDGE's approval was hailed by the team's general manager Shayne Bannan, who as a former national performance director of Cycling Australia groomed the country's top riders for their Olympic tilts for a number of years.

"This is a team built for the future and we are obviously thrilled to have the licence in place," Bannan said in a statement.

"We have been confident all along during the process, but at the same time humble towards the criteria you need to meet in order to get the final approval.

"We are currently busy with our first team camp and everything is coming together for a great debut year in the WorldTour.

"We're a young team with big ambitions about giving back to the sport and creating excitement both in Australia and across the globe."

RadioShack-Nissan is managed by Johan Bruyneel, who guided Lance Armstrong to his record seven Tour de France titles, and will be led by twice Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck.

The two teams join 16 others which have elite status - Lotto and Omega Pharma (Belgium), Saxo Bank (Denmark). Euskaltel and Movistar (Spain), BMC and Garmin (US), AG2R La Mondiale and FDJ (France), Sky (Great Britain), Lampre and Liquigas (Italy), Astana (Kazakhstan), Rabobank and Vacansoleil (Netherlands) and Katusha (Russia).

The 2012 WorldTour kicks off in Adelaide, Australia, at the six-stage Tour Down Under from January 17-22.

GreenEDGE Jack Bobridge, Simon Clarke, Baden Cooke, Allan Davis, Mitchell Docker, Luke Durbridge, Simon Gerrans, Matthew Goss, Michael Hepburn, Leigh Howard, Brett Lancaster, Robbie McEwen, Cameron Meyer, Travis Meyer, Stuart O'Grady, Wesley Sulzberger and Matthew Wilson (AUS), Michael Albasini (SUI), Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN), Julian Dean (NZL), Jens Keukeleire (BEL), Daryl Impey (RSA), Aidis Kruopis and Tomas Vaitkus (LTU), Sebastian Langeveld, Jens Mouris and Pieter Weening (NED), Chritian Meier and Svein Tuft (CAN), Daniel Teklehaimanot (ERY)

Reuters/ABC