• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

World Tour Wild Cards 2025

Page 4 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
tobydawq

tobydawq

Nov 16, 2013
24,660
24,528
28,180
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
10,804
9,828
28,180
Samu Cuenca said:
TE missed out on an invite to FW, but got one to LBL. They then got one for GW, but not for O(H)N and DDV (assumingly). We'll see if FC will also snub them for AGR and RVV.
Click to expand...

I fear they might fold after this season. French cycling really is in throuble. No way Turgis, Burgaudeau and Cras will stay and then there's basically nothing left apart from some young talents. They will get even less wild cards, and I don't think that Tour wild card will be safe for a very long time. They might need to hope Arkea folds cause if there's 2 French Teams without guaranteed TDF spot I doubt ASO invites both (and keeps 2 other bigger teams out of it).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
P

pastronef

Aug 19, 2011
8,117
2,270
20,680
Samamba said:
I fear they might fold after this season. French cycling really is in throuble. No way Turgis, Burgaudeau and Cras will stay and then there's basically nothing left apart from some young talents. They will get even less wild cards, and I don't think that Tour wild card will be safe for a very long time. They might need to hope Arkea folds cause if there's 2 French Teams without guaranteed TDF spot I doubt ASO invites both (and keeps 2 other bigger teams out of it).
Click to expand...

yep that's what I've been thinking. and if I had to choose between Total and Arkea, I'd hope Total stays and Arkea folds
 
U

Unchained

Sep 5, 2016
3,399
5,453
19,180
pastronef said:
yep that's what I've been thinking. and if I had to choose between Total and Arkea, I'd hope Total stays and Arkea folds
Click to expand...
Total Energies also does lots of individual race sponsorship, so lots of money is given out for brand exposure, Belgian teams you know probably beg to get Esso to become a title sponsor, UK teams also have sponsorship though big oil..not sure if TE sees noticeable different return for team commitment vs hundreds of other small events. In California and Texas which are most active bike racing regions in US, big oil often sponsor events.
I also don't know what was the budget objective when Total Energies signed Peter Sagan..don't know if that increased or switched up budget, Sagan is the only notable signing for the team. Not trying to be insulting but as a casual observer, doesn't look like they are trying to win..feel that way to a degree about Cofids
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
P

pastronef

Aug 19, 2011
8,117
2,270
20,680
Unchained said:
Total Energies also does lots of individual race sponsorship, so lots of money is given out for brand exposure, Belgian teams you know probably beg to get Esso to become a title sponsor, UK teams also have sponsorship though big oil..not sure if TE sees noticeable different return for team commitment vs hundreds of other small events. In California and Texas which are most active bike racing regions in US, big oil often sponsor events.
I also don't know what was the budget objective when Total Energies signed Peter Sagan..don't know if that increased or switched up budget, Sagan is the only notable signing for the team. Not trying to be insulting but as a casual observer, doesn't look like they are trying to win..feel that way to a degree about Cofids
Click to expand...

the team manager Bernaudeau made it clear they are not behaving as UCI points farmers, they rely on the TDF wild card and keep racing in their French attacking style all around French races and TDF. problem is with the new teams coming and the point system, their future does not look rosey.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Leadbelly

Leadbelly

Sep 5, 2011
389
319
9,980
  • Haha
  • Wow
Reactions: Sandisfan and pastronef
A

AupaPyama

Jan 1, 2013
6
4
8,535
Well for Total Energies the demise began in 2024. Sagan may not have gotten them results he did get them wildcards.

In 2023 they raced a full WT program with lot of wildcards:

Stage racing (7): Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, Itzulia, Dauphine, Suisse, Tour, Vuelta
One day classics (17): Omloop, Strade Bianche, Milano-San Remo, De Panne, E3, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Roubaix, Amstel, FW, LBL, Frankfurt, San Sebastian, Bretagne, BEMER, Il Lombardia. Only ones missing are CEGORR and the Canadian races.

Then in 2024 they only got:
Stage racing (3): Paris-Nice, Itzulia, Tour
One day classics (8): De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Roubaix, FW, LBL, San Sebastian, Bretagne.

So in 2024 that makes 13 less wildcards among others for RVV and Amstel but also Tirreno and Vuelta!

And now in 2025 (thus far): no DDV and no FW (both lost to Tudor) but Dauphine is back on the roster.

Feel sorry for Turgis (and Jeanniere). Should go to Soudal.

Rumour also was that sponsor Total Energies would switch to Bahrein (and Lenny Martinez) in 2026.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Sandisfan
Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
10,804
9,828
28,180
AupaPyama said:
In 2023 they raced a full WT program with lot of wildcards:
Click to expand...

Well yeah maybe cause they got guaranteed WCs as a result of them being in the top 2 of (future) Pro Teams in 2022 (they did better than Israel, hence why Israel threatened to sue the UCI). Only 2 missing cause they chose not to go there. So while Sagan did give them WCs before that when they didn't get top 2 (1 or 2 years it was), 2023 had of course nothing to do with that. It's not fair to compare other years to 2023.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Devil's Elbow

Devil's Elbow

Sep 20, 2017
10,612
19,517
28,180
pastronef said:
the team manager Bernaudeau made it clear they are not behaving as UCI points farmers
Click to expand...
Is that why they raced the likes of Rwanda, Istanbul, Taihu Lake and Kyushu last year?

Their issues are very simple: all their signings in recent years are journeymen with established ceilings. Anyone below the age of 25 is a very young rider by their standards. It's an approach that is badly out of date, and the result is that they can't develop anyone into exciting riders who can get big results. Therefore Uno-X, Tudor and now Q36 have all overtaken them and that's why they're struggling to get wildcards, not their schedule.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pastronef
Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
10,804
9,828
28,180
Devil's Elbow said:
Is that why they raced the likes of Rwanda, Istanbul, Taihu Lake and Kyushu last year?

Their issues are very simple: all their signings in recent years are journeymen with established ceilings. Anyone below the age of 25 is a very young rider by their standards. It's an approach that is badly out of date, and the result is that they can't develop anyone into exciting riders who can get big results. Therefore Uno-X, Tudor and now Q36 have all overtaken them and that's why they're struggling to get wildcards, not their schedule.
Click to expand...

Actually riding those races has nothing to do with points but with money. It's either because of TotalEnergies wanting them there (in Rwanda for example) or because a fat starting fee, for example in Istanbul and Taihu Lake. They didn't even have 25 riders last year, there was no way they could make guaranteed wildcards, they aren't going for it anymore. They simply do not have the budget anymore cause TotalEnergies only pays extra for stars, like Sagan (also helped by Specialized) or Alaphilippe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pastronef
P

pastronef

Aug 19, 2011
8,117
2,270
20,680
Samamba said:
Actually riding those races has nothing to do with points but with money. It's either because of TotalEnergies wanting them there (in Rwanda for example) or because a fat starting fee, for example in Istanbul and Taihu Lake. They didn't even have 25 riders last year, there was no way they could make guaranteed wildcards, they aren't going for it anymore. They simply do not have the budget anymore cause TotalEnergies only pays extra for stars, like Sagan (also helped by Specialized) or Alaphilippe.
Click to expand...

any truth in the rumor, a few posts above, about Total thinking of backing Bahrain in 2026? it's strange
 
search

search

Aug 29, 2009
6,769
5,434
23,180
Samamba said:
Actually riding those races has nothing to do with points but with money. It's either because of TotalEnergies wanting them there (in Rwanda for example) or because a fat starting fee, for example in Istanbul and Taihu Lake.
Click to expand...
they went to Rwanda since it turned .1, same as they always did Tropicale Amissa Bongo, even back in the Europcar days. Taihu Lake etc may very well be for the money, but I think the Africa connection is more likely a personal one, or maybe due to the interest of some lesser sponsor.
 
Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
10,804
9,828
28,180
search said:
they went to Rwanda since it turned .1, same as they always did Tropicale Amissa Bongo, even back in the Europcar days. Taihu Lake etc may very well be for the money, but I think the Africa connection is more likely a personal one, or maybe due to the interest of some lesser sponsor.
Click to expand...

Both African Races are for TotalEnergies, or my memory is letting me down, but it was definitely sponsor related.

Taihu Lake and Istanbul definitely for money, same reason why Lotto was there (they obviously also was the points possibility).

pastronef said:
any truth in the rumor, a few posts above, about Total thinking of backing Bahrain in 2026? it's strange
Click to expand...

I don't know, never heard it, but could be true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom