UCI Points race 2026-28

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It is sad that the question has to be asked, but do we know; is the top 30 rule to be interpreted as "In the top 30 at the end of last season" or "Among the top 30 last season of currently existent teams"?

Because if the former, it may well be that there will only be a pool of 28 to pick from.

unless the rules changed, it's the former. Arkea folding reduced the number to 29 this year.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Things look fairly set here with regard to the guaranteed wildcards. The major battle is to get into the top-30 for invitation eligibilty.

I hope Euskaltel can gather a strong autumn season and get into the top 30. Need to see Landa in Euskaltel riding a last Vuelta.

 

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I hope Euskaltel can gather a strong autumn season and get into the top 30. Need to see Landa in Euskaltel riding a last Vuelta.

they even started to do .2 races recently, so seem to be pretty determined. But in the end, I guess the points will need to come from Asia, and Bardiani and MBH ahead will have the same plan.

Best chance is probably to beat Picnic, and hope for Li Ning Star to stay behind.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I suspect a WorldTeam not making the top 30 wasn't in the thinking when they came up wit this idea...

 

[Rockestar_33]

I suspect a WorldTeam not making the top 30 wasn't in the thinking when they came up wit this idea...

I think the way they've worded it makes me suspect it's irrelevant. The official wording is that "if you finish outside the top 30 you are ineligible for a wildcard invitation to a Grand Tour".

World Tour teams must attend all but one WT level race in the calendar, and can't skip the Monuments and GT's

 

[Leadbelly]

Euskaltel dropping down to 32nd with Li Ning getting good points at the Trans-Himalaya race.

 

[pastronef]

Euskaltel dropping down to 32nd with Li Ning getting good points at the Trans-Himalaya race.

as I said, the faith and strength one needs, to keep supporting Euskaltel, just fueled by memories and hope, is something to behold

 

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Li Ning Star certainly is a problem, yeah, as they basically have a better team for the Asia Tour, and Euskaltel doesn't really look likely to score much elsewhere anyway.

In the end, UCI may need to reconsider the rules/system regardless, though. If Total and Kern fold and Picnic drops back to PT level, it would result in a very limited choice of potential wildcards for the Grand Tours. Especially if Picnic gets beaten by Li Ning Star as well.

Pinarello would likely move up to the WT then (as only team applying for it), handing the mandatory wildcards to Cofidis, Tudor and Unibet. Which would leave only the following teams to chose from:

- Caja Rural
- Burgos
- Polti
- Solution Tech
- Bardiani
- MBH Bank

Not sure ASO would even bother to hand out 2 Tour wildcards at those.

 

[Brullnux]

as I said, the faith and strength one needs, to keep supporting Euskaltel, just fueled by memories and hope, is something to behold

I think you are missing the main, obvious reason people might support Euskaltel-Eskaudi

 

[Brullnux]

Li Ning Star certainly is a problem, yeah, as they basically have a better team for the Asia Tour, and Euskaltel doesn't really look likely to score much elsewhere anyway.

In the end, UCI may need to reconsider the rules/system regardless, though. If Total and Kern fold and Picnic drops back to PT level, it would result in a very limited choice of potential wildcards for the Grand Tours. Especially if Picnic gets beaten by Li Ning Star as well.

Pinarello would likely move up to the WT then (as only team applying for it), handing the mandatory wildcards to Cofidis, Tudor and Unibet. Which would leave only the following teams to chose from:

- Caja Rural
- Burgos
- Polti
- Solution Tech
- Bardiani
- MBH Bank

Not sure ASO would even bother to hand out 2 Tour wildcards at those.

Picnic are WT until 2028, right? I think that's enough time for things to change significantly in terms of ProTeam sponsors and makeup. There's a clear gap for an ambitious pro team, and the success of Q36.5 and Uno-X might tempt some people.

 

[pastronef]

I think you are missing the main, obvious reason people might support Euskaltel-Eskaudi

ok ok Euskadi, yes, la marea naranja, the Basque spirit. for the Basques. but for the British or Danish fans, cheering a team hardly even seen on tv?

 

[Brullnux]

ok ok Euskadi, yes, la marea naranja, the Basque spirit. for the Basques. but for the British or Danish fans, cheering a team hardly even seen on tv?

In that case, I think it is appreciation that regional, less commercial teams still exist. It is a form of nostalgia, but it is less about hopes and memories of the 00s Euskaltel and more for the pre-commercialisation of sport. Euskaltel-Euskadi still do feel like a holdout against the big budgets, PR machines, data optimisation, and aggressive capitalism of modern sport, and I think that is an attraction.

 

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Picnic are WT until 2028, right?

only if their financial situation improves

"The UCI Licence Commission has decided to limit the duration of the licence to one year and to set conditions related to the financial criterion that must be met in order to permit its extension to the 2027 and 2028 seasons."

 

[Samamba]

only if their financial situation improves

"The UCI Licence Commission has decided to limit the duration of the licence to one year and to set conditions related to the financial criterion that must be met in order to permit its extension to the 2027 and 2028 seasons."

Not really "improves", just if one of their main sponsors extends, and the rumors are they did so they'll be fine.