World Tour Wildcards 2023

[Eddy Evenepoel]

It's 25 teams for monuments, right?

 

[RedheadDane]

It's 25 teams for monuments, right?

I think...
I might actually do something myself, even if my knowledge will be limited to "automatic invation", "frequently been invited", and "LoL, no!"
Edit: Naah, too lazy. To unknowledgeable!

 

[search]

yeah, 3+4 wildcards for the momuments.

Usually it never feels like there's much competition. ASO seems to shuffle the teams around a bit for their races, and unless RCS wants to invite Novo Nordisk again, there should also be enough room for the teams interested in Sanremo. Maybe there'll be a bit of a "battle" between Corratec and HPH or so.

 

[Roku]

I think Bardiani had a spot guaranteed with or without Lotto stepping out of the race. This is great news for Israel and Q.365 since it probably secure both of them being present at Giro.

Corratec will probably be at the main RCS races but Giro seems too much for them, given their poor overall roster.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Milano - San Remo:

In 2022 there were 24 teams at start line. The following 6 Pro Teams were at start line: Arkea, Alpecin, Total, Eolo, Bardiani, Drone Hopper

For 2023, let's assume they will fill all 25 spots, meaning 7 wild cards

1. Lotto - Automatic
2. Total - Automatic
3. Israel - Automatic
4. Eolo - Italian, seems given.
5. Bardiani - Italian, seems given.

Then it opens up a lot for the last spots.
Corratec - Italian team so highly likely to get invite.
Q36,5 - Kind of half-Italian, could be a good contender.
Uno-X - Former winner Kristoff, should offer an interesting team.
Tudor - Cancellara former winner, Kamp could be an interesting rider.

Black Spoke could've been interesting, but they are probably not even close to a Wild Card. Neither of the two Belgian teams looks to offer anything better than the teams I've already mentioned. The Spanish teams don't look good either. Human Power by Health also should fall way behind the teams mentioned above.

I think both Uno-X and Q36,5 should go ahead of Corratec, but Italian team so I think Corratec will be team number 6 and then the last spot is between Q36,5 and Uno-X.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Ronde van Vlaanderen:

In 2022 there were 25 teams at start line. The following 6 Pro Teams were at start line: Arkea, Alpecin, Total, Bingoal, Sport Vlaanderen, B&B and Uno-X

For 2023, let's assume they will fill all 25 spots again, meaning 7 wild cards.

1. Lotto - Automatic
2. Total - Automatic
3. Israel - Automatic
4. Bingoal - Belgian team, it's given.
5. Flanders Baloise - Belgian team, it's given.
6. Uno-X - Former winner Kristoff, had good cobble performances last two years. Has to be in.

Then the last spot is perhaps more open.

• The Swiss teams looks pretty weak in the northern classics department. Q36,5 at least have a decent Belgian rider in Tom Devriendt that punched well above his weight class when he finished 4th in Roubaix last season + Jack Bauer that has a top 10 from E3.
• The Italian teams are not that strong, neither Eolo, Bardiani or Corratec has a rider that gives me "he should race Flanders"-vibe.
• The Spanish teams is not a great fit, they should not be relevant.
• Human Powered Health has two belgian riders, basically the only reason to think they would be relevant.
• Black Spoke is not ready yet I suppose.
• Novo Nordisk would only get a sympathy WC in case all other candidates are useless.

I think Q36,5 will get the last spot here.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The Italian teams are not that strong, neither Eolo, Bardiani or Corratec has a rider that gives me "he should race Flanders"-vibe.

Would like to see Albanese have a crack at the cobbles. Agree that the wildcard options for that final spot are highly underwhelming though.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Paris-Roubaix:

In 2022 there were 25 teams at start line. The following 7 Pro Teams were at start line: Arkea, Alpecin, Total, Bingoal, Sport Vlaanderen, B&B and Uno-X

For 2023, let's assume they will fill all 25 spots again, meaning 7 wild cards. I think it's pretty obvious who will get them:

1. Lotto - Automatic
2. Total - Automatic
3. Israel - Automatic
4. Uno-X - Good cobble squad and seems to have a good relationship with ASO.
5. Bingoal - A team more or less designated for flat classics, should be in.
6. Flanders Baloise - A team more or less designated for flat classics, should be in.
7. Q36,5 - Devriendt was 4th last year. In lack of other ProTeams with a solid cobble classics department, that should be enough.

I don't see any other ProTeam really challenge any of these 7.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Liege-Bastogne-Liege:

In 2022 there were 25 teams at start line. The following 7 Pro Teams were at start line: Arkea, Alpecin, Total Bingoal, Sport Vlaanderen, Uno-X and Kern Pharma

For 2023, let's assume they will fill all 25 spots again, meaning 7 wild cards. I think it's pretty obvious who will get them:

1. Lotto - Automatic
2. Total - Automatic
3. Israel - Automatic
4. Bingoal - Belgian team, therefore given.
5. Flanders Baloise - Belgian team, therefore given.

The two Belgian teams did really bad in Liege this season, but I think they will get a new chance anyway. For the last 2 spots there are more good candidates than there is for Flanders or Roubaix.

Uno-X: Invited this year, but Greegard best in 28th place. Race was more or less ruined for Uno-X when Halland Johannesen crashed. THJ should be a potential top 10 rider.
Eolo-Kometa: Could have a very interesting team around Fortunato and Albanese, but they might be too focused on prepping for the Giro to go for this with their best team?
Tudor: Kamp could be a potential top 5 rider in this race.
Q36,5: Not a great team for the hilly classics, but obviously a candidate.
Kern Pharma: was invited this year, but best rider in 63rd spot. Roger Adria could be a potential top 10 rider.

The other Spanish and Italian teams could be candidates, but they don't have very attractive riders.

My guess is that Uno-X and either Tudor or Q36,5 will get the last two spots.

 

[Roku]

It's a nice job you're doing. I would like to point out that for wild-cards you always have to look at the big picture as well. Uno-X is heavily balanced towards ASO races, while Q36.5 should be balanced towards RCS races.

On top of that, it's not likely Q36.5 get invites for all those ASO races as a package. It is possible Q36.5 is the "5th best individual candidate" for Paris-Roubaix, LBL, Paris-Nice... but on aggregate it is virtually impossible they get on all of these races. If ASO selects Q36.5 on Roubaix, they will likely give Tudor an invite for LBL.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

It's a nice job you're doing. I would like to point out that for wild-cards you always have to look at the big picture as well. Uno-X is heavily balanced towards ASO races, while Q36.5 should be balanced towards RCS races.

On top of that, it's not likely Q36.5 get invites for all those ASO races as a package. It is possible Q36.5 is the "5th best individual candidate" for Paris-Roubaix, LBL, Paris-Nice... but on aggregate it is virtually impossible they get on all of these races. If ASO selects Q36.5 on Roubaix, they will likely give Tudor an invite for LBL.

Good point, which is why I would guess Q36,5 will get San Remo and Roubaix, but miss out on L-B-L for Tudor or Kern Pharma.a
I think Uno-X, because the good relations to ASO and Flanders classics and Kristoff formerly winning San Remo, will get all 4 in the spring, but miss out on Lombardy in the autumn.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Tour de France:
Lotto
Total
Israel
Uno-X

CONFIRMED!

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

The same 4 teams that got Tour de France wildcard did also receive the wild cards for Paris-Nice.

 

[Mayomaniac]

yeah, 3+4 wildcards for the momuments.

Usually it never feels like there's much competition. ASO seems to shuffle the teams around a bit for their races, and unless RCS wants to invite Novo Nordisk again, there should also be enough room for the teams interested in Sanremo. Maybe there'll be a bit of a "battle" between Corratec and HPH or so.

Is NN still sponsoring one of the RCS races? Because (besides the good PR) that's what usually got them the MSR wildcard...

 

[tobydawq]

Is NN still sponsoring one of the RCS races? Because (besides the good PR) that's what usually got them the MSR wildcard...

It's a few years since they last got an MSR wildcard.

 

[search]

Is NN still sponsoring one of the RCS races? Because (besides the good PR) that's what usually got them the MSR wildcard...

It's a few years since they last got an MSR wildcard.

the team still did MSR in 2021, but no RCS races since, yeah. "Changing Diabetes" is not listed as a sponsor on the race website anymore indeed

 

[tobydawq]

the team still did MSR in 2021, but no RCS races since, yeah. "Changing Diabetes" is not listed as a sponsor on the race website anymore indeed

True, I didn't remember that. But they were snubbed (if you can call it that) in both 2022 and 2020.

 

[search]

RCS has announced its wildscards:

Giro d'Italia

• EOLO-KOMETA CYCLING TEAM
• GREEN PROJECT-BARDIANI CSF-FAIZANÉ
• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• TEAM CORRATEC

Strade Bianche

• EOLO-KOMETA CYCLING TEAM
• GREEN PROJECT-BARDIANI CSF-FAIZANÉ
• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• LOTTO DSTNY
• Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM
• TOTALENERGIES
• TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM

Tirreno Adriatico

• EOLO-KOMETA CYCLING TEAM
• GREEN PROJECT-BARDIANI CSF-FAIZANÉ
• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM
• TEAM CORRATEC
• TOTALENERGIES
• TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM

Milano Sanremo

• EOLO-KOMETA CYCLING TEAM
• GREEN PROJECT-BARDIANI CSF-FAIZANÉ
• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• LOTTO DSTNY
• Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM
• TOTALENERGIES
• TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Surprised to see Corratec go before Q36,5. It has to mean they will strengthen their team very soon (Nairo and/or Pozzovivo)??

Also disappointed to not see Uno-X in San Remo.

 

[tobydawq]

Surprised to see Corratec go before Q36,5. It has to mean they will strengthen their team very soon (Nairo and/or Pozzovivo)??

Also disappointed to not see Uno-X in San Remo.

I really hope for Pozzovivo.

I couldn't care less about Quintana.

 

[search]

Volta a Catalunya

• Lotto Dstny
• Israel-Premier Tech
• Burgos-BH
• Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
• Equipo Kern Pharma
• Euskaltel-Euskadi
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

Volta a Catalunya defines all its teams for the 2023 edition - Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024

(Barcelona, 20-01-2023).- The organisers of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya have now defined the 25 teams that will start the 102nd edition with the announcement

www.voltacatalunya.cat

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I've tried to make a overview of wild cards for the most interesting races before the Tour. Only about half of them are official, the others I've just taken the teams PCS have been listing for the different races. I have no idea if they are just doing wild guesses or if they have some insight.

Team

UAE

Omloop

Paris-Nice

Strade

Tirreno

San Remo

Catalunya

E3

G-W

Dwaars

Ronde

Roubaix

Itzulia

Amstel

F-W

LBL

Romandie

Giro

Dauphine

Swiss

Tour

Lotto

X

X

X

X

-

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

aut

X

X

X

aut

-

aut

aut

X

Total

-

X

X

X

X

X

-

X

X

X

X

aut

aut

-

aut

aut

X

Israel

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

aut

X

X

X

aut

X

aut

aut

X

Uno-X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Eolo

X

X

X

X

X

Bardiani

X

X

X

X

Corratec

X

X

Q36,5

X

X

X

Tudor

X

X

X

Kern Pharma

X

X

Caja Rural

X

X

Burgos

X

X

Euskaltel

X

Bingoal

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Baloise

X

X

X

Human PH

X

X

Source

PCS

PCS

Official

Official

Official

Official

Official

PCS

PCS

PCS

PCS

PCS

PCS

PCS

PCS

PCS

PCS

Official

Official

 

[search]

Liege-Bastogne-Liege:

In 2022 there were 25 teams at start line. The following 7 Pro Teams were at start line: Arkea, Alpecin, Total Bingoal, Sport Vlaanderen, Uno-X and Kern Pharma

For 2023, let's assume they will fill all 25 spots again, meaning 7 wild cards. I think it's pretty obvious who will get them:

1. Lotto - Automatic
2. Total - Automatic
3. Israel - Automatic
4. Bingoal - Belgian team, therefore given.
5. Flanders Baloise - Belgian team, therefore given.

The two Belgian teams did really bad in Liege this season, but I think they will get a new chance anyway. For the last 2 spots there are more good candidates than there is for Flanders or Roubaix.

Uno-X: Invited this year, but Greegard best in 28th place. Race was more or less ruined for Uno-X when Halland Johannesen crashed. THJ should be a potential top 10 rider.
Eolo-Kometa: Could have a very interesting team around Fortunato and Albanese, but they might be too focused on prepping for the Giro to go for this with their best team?
Tudor: Kamp could be a potential top 5 rider in this race.
Q36,5: Not a great team for the hilly classics, but obviously a candidate.
Kern Pharma: was invited this year, but best rider in 63rd spot. Roger Adria could be a potential top 10 rider.

The other Spanish and Italian teams could be candidates, but they don't have very attractive riders.

My guess is that Uno-X and either Tudor or Q36,5 will get the last two spots.

in the end it went to Kern Pharma indeed, while Burgos got a surprise call for Fleche Wallonne

La Flèche Wallonne

• Israel Premier Tech
• Lotto Dstny
• TotalEnrgies
• Bingoal WB
• Burgos - BH
• Equipo Kern Pharma
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

Liège Bastogne Liège

• Israel Premier Tech
• Lotto Dstny
• TotalEnrgies
• Bingoal WB
• Equipo Kern Pharma
• Team Flanders - Baloise
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

 

[Roku]

Looking at the big picture, with ASO controlling Vuelta, these otherwise strange wild-cards for Kern Pharma and especially Burgos could be consolation prizes for missing the Vuelta later on.

 

[pastronef]

surelo Caja Rural will get a Vuelta WC after missing ut last year. I think it's Burgos turn to stay home this year (depends if Total rides the Vuelta)