World Tour Wild Cards 2025

[Berniece]

Because they something that isn't even possible? I'm not gonna believe journalists or sources that don't even realize that. Anyways it's I was joking a bit, nothing special about that first part of the article. Like velodromes or wind tunnels are special

I can’t remember how it went in case of the possible Visma - SOQ merger. But can’t they just merge sponsors, ownerships and then buy the other one out while keeping the license?

 

[Mayomaniac]

If there wasn't a 4th wildcard then I still would gave gone for those two teams.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I can’t remember how it went in case of the possible Visma - SOQ merger. But can’t they just merge sponsors, ownerships and then buy the other one out while keeping the license?

Arkea still wont have an WT-license next year...

 

[Berniece]

Arkea still wont have an WT-license next year...

Good point

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I can’t remember how it went in case of the possible Visma - SOQ merger. But can’t they just merge sponsors, ownerships and then buy the other one out while keeping the license?

Sure, but the team/license holder needs to have a license to sell, which is very unlikely to become the case here. Arkéa will probably not score more points than Tudor this year, so there won't be anything to gain from a merger either, other than a few stronger riders possibly.

 

[Pantani_lives]

as a Pidcock-Q36.5 fan I'd never imagined I had to thank Spartacus and Alaph and ASO for the Q36.5's Giro wild card

Good news. That sterrato stage in the Giro needs him!

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, I guess RCS can't use the "If you don't bring Alaphillipe and Hirschi, we'll just invite Q36.5!" Blackmail against Tudor now.
Not like they ever could.

 

[Unchained]

Well, I guess RCS can't use the "If you don't bring Alaphillipe and Hirschi, we'll just invite Q36.5!" Blackmail against Tudor now.
Not like they ever could.

Pretty sure that Fabian Cancellara drank some wine with decision makers long before official announcement was made..and he likely talked with those 2 riders about " wildcard " possibilities before Hirschi left UAE and Julian didn't sign with FDJ or Cofids..everyone already knew..

 

[Wyndbrook]

General motors are paying 450 million dollars to get into F1, I'm sure the Frence mayor will sell an additional world tour licence for a much smaller amount of swiss francs.

 

[pastronef]

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[pastronef]

what are the Vuelta people waiting for? come on, spill the beans! don't feel shame for leaving out one Spanish team! we already know you'll *** up

 

[SafeBet]

I wasn't expecting the Vuelta to ditch Kern Pharma after their great 2024.

 

[Samamba]

I wasn't expecting the Vuelta to ditch Kern Pharma after their great 2024.

This has been known for weeks. This whole extra WC thing was only about getting Q36.5 and Tudor in more GTs. It's disgusting.

 

[pastronef]

This has been known for weeks. This whole extra WC thing was only about getting Q36.5 and Tudor in more GTs. It's disgusting.

Guillen, at least 2 months ago said they would not get 3 Spanish teams

 

[search]

and to be fair, there has been a clear pattern over the past years, with Burgos/Caja and Kern/Euskaltel getting alternating wild cards.

Only exception was the additional one for Burgos in 2022, but back then there was no competition.

 

[Samamba]

Guillen, at least 2 months ago said they would not get 3 Spanish teams

Well congrats, months then. I have a problem with them saying saving home teams was one of the main reasons for the push for more WCs which was always obviously BS. It has always been to please the new rich teams on the block who get an easier path to grand tours than others.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Javier Guillén should be banned from ever having a say in what teams get to go to his race again. Same *** every year.

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1908109510721372581

View: https://x.com/CdelVentoux/status/1908109510721372581


Playing devil's advocate: Burgos and Caja Rural steal Kern's place in the same way Q36.5 does. The three invitations are conditioned by advertising commitments, prior agreements, and interests other than the "sporting merit" of 2024.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I was looking forward to seeing Urko Berrade go for GC this time round to see what he can do, maybe see if Pau Miquel can finally win a stage.

I know it rotates but if they're going to shoehorn in an extra then at least make it make sense/not look so corrupt.

 

[Samamba]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1908109510721372581

View: https://x.com/CdelVentoux/status/1908109510721372581


Playing devil's advocate: Burgos and Caja Rural steal Kern's place in the same way Q36.5 does. The three invitations are conditioned by advertising commitments, prior agreements, and interests other than the "sporting merit" of 2024.

They don't steal anything cause that's the normal rotation. Caja and Burgos were always gonna get their WC.

 

[search]

Q36.5 also has a couple of Spanish riders/staff, and used to get invited back in the MTN days already. I'm not even sure it's due to money/Pidcock much.

 

[pastronef]

They don't steal anything cause that's the normal rotation. Caja and Burgos were always gonna get their WC.

yep, the Spanish chap was half joking. and yes, that's the Vuelta wild card rotation. last year Kern and Euskaltel, this year Caja and Burgos. Kern and Euskaltel already knew it would not be their turn

 

[pastronef]

Q36.5 also has a couple of Spanish riders/staff, and used to get invited back in the MTN days already. I'm not even sure it's due to money/Pidcock much.

5 Spanish riders. the Azparren brothers, Camprubi, Gonzalez, De La Cruz.

 

[tobydawq]

yep, the Spanish chap was half joking. and yes, that's the Vuelta wild card rotation. last year Kern and Euskaltel, this year Caja and Burgos. Kern and Euskaltel already knew it would not be their turn

It seems a bit extreme that three stage wins are not enough to alter this rotation, especially as it hasn't been an established tradition for many years. Okay, they lost Castrillo and look far from being capable of pulling something similar off, so it's not as bad as it could have been.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's about time they just went mask off and got rid of wildcards and just announced that teams will be invited to races based on the 23 who have the highest budgets, and everybody else can wither and die for all the UCI care. No need for pre-qualifying or any of that battle to be on the grid. Then everybody in the cartel can share all the money and people that aren't in those teams... they can go drive sportscars or touring cars or something. Who cares? They don't have as much money, so they don't deserve opportunities.

And if we stop them getting opportunities, nobody will invest in them so that they do have money, and we don't need to worry about somebody in the club getting their feelings hurt like Sylvain Adams ever again.