World Tour Wildcards 2024

[pastronef]

from the UCI press release about the Jumbo-Soudal "merger" (ffs)

"As a reminder, the two teams hold UCI WorldTour licenses, which were renewed for a three-year period (2023-2025) at the end of the registration procedure last year by the UCI License Commission, a body independent of the UCI. Nevertheless, in accordance with the UCI Regulations, this license may be re-evaluated at any time. In this regard, if the continuity of one of the teams could not be guaranteed for the 2024 season, the number of UCI WorldTeams would be 17 for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. As a result, the number of UCI ProTeams that are automatically invited to UCI WorldTour events would increase"

this would be a welcome news for the pro-conti teams

TDF: 17 WT, Lotto, Israel, Total, Uno-X and 1 more

Giro: 17 WT, Israel, (hopefully Lotto skips it again) Tudor, Eolo-Polti, Bardiani and 1 more

Vuelta: 17 WT, Israel, Lotto, Euskaltel and?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The number of automatic invites would increase, so the number 3 PCT (currently Uno-X but Total could still catch them) would be invited to everything and the number 4 (the other of the two, nobody else is close) would be invited to all one-day races. Can't see Uno-X only doing one GT if given the choice.

My main hope for next season is GT debuts for both Q36 and Tudor, they've earned it.

 

[pastronef]

The number of automatic invites would increase, so the number 3 PCT (currently Uno-X but Total could still catch them) would be invited to everything and the number 4 (the other of the two, nobody else is close) would be invited to all one-day races. Can't see Uno-X only doing one GT if given the choice.

Total will be fine with their TDF spot for both 2024 and 2025

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

So Israel and Lotto gets all WT races and Uno-X gets all WT one day races.

Do we think Lotto and Israel will do all GT?

I expect the following GT setups:
Giro: Israel, Eolo, Tudor, Q36,5 (Lotto declines)
Tour: Lotto, Israel, Uno-X, Total
Vuelta: Lotto and the last 3 is Total and/or the Spanish PCTs (Israel declines)

Giro is open, both Bardiani and Corratec can challenge. Vuelta is also extremely open with 4 Spanish PCTs. Tour I think is a lock.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Don’t think Lotto will withdraw from the Giro again, when they handed back the wildcard last time the UCI hadn’t announced the increased points for GT stages yet. Spots are ridiculously scarce for that one, would guess that Green Project and Q36.5 get the short end of the stick.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The UCI just need to cut the pretence and just say "we are not allowing wildcard selections any more".

 

[pastronef]

Bardiani NEEDS to get a Giro wild card. it's between them and Q36.5

 

[tobydawq]

I am not so excited for this one.

Which one is it particularly that you don't find exciting, Nick?

 

[Samamba]

Don’t think Lotto will withdraw from the Giro again, when they handed back the wildcard last time the UCI hadn’t announced the increased points for GT stages yet. Spots are ridiculously scarce for that one, would guess that Green Project and Q36.5 get the short end of the stick.

I think they will actually. Don't have the team to do 3 GTs, even worse now without Ewan GT wise.
On the other hand they have plenty of guys that actually signed there to get their first GT in, so maybe they will. 50-50 imo.

Honestly would say to the Giro that they take the invite, maybe they pay them off cause they promised too many teams a WC lmao.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Which one is it particularly that you don't find exciting, Nick?

The thread, of course.

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1737375642700947456

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1737375642700947456


Lotto will skip the Giro in 2024 too, very good news.

Giro: 18 WT, Israel, Bardiani, Polti-Eolo, Tudor

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I think I would prefer Q36,5 over Bardiani, but real Italian team probably get chosen over fake Italian team.

 

[yaco]

I have no idea why Lotto would again bypass a GT when they have enough talent in their squad to ride three GT's. Bardiani over Q36.5 is a poor decision when you consider the strength of both squads.

 

[laarsland]

I have no idea why Lotto would again bypass a GT when they have enough talent in their squad to ride three GT's. Bardiani over Q36.5 is a poor decision when you consider the strength of both squads.

I would presume they have more than one eye on their points tally and prioritizing freshness for one-day/stage races for which they’re stacked.

 

[yaco]

I would presume they have more than one eye on their points tally and prioritizing freshness for one-day/stage races for which they’re stacked.

Which is an abuse of the UCI points system - I'll add that if you ride well you can get lots of points in a GC - For example, Jayco did not win a stage in the 2023 TDF but got over 2000 UCI points.

 

[Samamba]

when they have enough talent in their squad to ride three GT's

They really just don't. Try to make 3 competitive GT selections with their squad. They have like 1 actual good climber, 1 good sprinter (and flat chaotic bunch sprints is not his strength). It's a young classic squad mainly, GTs just aren't their cup of tea.

It worked this season so no surprise they're doing it again, even tho I don't expect them to get as much points in other races as they did this season.

 

[yaco]

They really just don't. Try to make 3 competitive GT selections with their squad. They have like 1 actual good climber, 1 good sprinter (and flat chaotic bunch sprints is not his strength). It's a young classic squad mainly, GTs just aren't their cup of tea.

It worked this season so no surprise they're doing it again, even tho I don't expect them to get as much points in other races as they did this season.

I am curious about De Lie - The Vuelta parcours is very suitable for his characteristics and I'd be more confident that he could get a stage win than in the TDF. Its an interesting dilemma.

 

[Samamba]

I am curious about De Lie - The Vuelta parcours is very suitable for his characteristics and I'd be more confident that he could get a stage win than in the TDF. Its an interesting dilemma.

There's like 5 sprint chances max in the Vuelta? No idea why that would be called "suitable". Tour is way better. And yes ofcourse winning a stage in the Vuelta is easier, it also means nothing compared to a stage win in the Tour.

 

[yaco]

There's like 5 sprint chances max in the Vuelta? No idea why that would be called "suitable". Tour is way better. And yes ofcourse winning a stage in the Vuelta is easier, it also means nothing compared to a stage win in the Tour.

De Lie can get over punchy stuff in which most sprinter types will struggle - I can only see three nailed on sprint stages with another three or four which will have reduced numbers - The only sprinter types that could make these finals are Pedersen and Groves. The parcours in the TDF is less suited to his characteristics BUT then again you only have to get it right once.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Tour de France: Israel, Lotto, Uno-X & Total.
No surprises.

Dauphine: Israel, Lotto, Uno-X & Q36,5.
Interesting to see Total being dumped here.

 

[search]

Paris - Nice was announced as well: Israel, Lotto, Total & Tudor.

So same as last year, ASO goes for 22 teams only for the French WT stage races. it's not too uncommon that one of their Tour wildcards misses out on the Dauphiné, btw.

 

[search]

RCS made its announcements today:

Giro d'Italia:

• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• TEAM POLTI KOMETA
• TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM
• VF GROUP-BARDIANI CSF- FAIZANE'

Strade Bianche:

• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• LOTTO DSTNY
• UNO-X MOBILITY
• CORRATEC - VINI FANTINI
• Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM
• TEAM POLTI KOMETA
• TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM

Tirreno Adriatico:

• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• CORRATEC - VINI FANTINI
• Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM
• TEAM POLTI KOMETA
• TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM
• UNO-X MOBILITY
• VF GROUP-BARDIANI CSF- FAIZANE'

Milano Sanremo:

• ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
• LOTTO DSTNY
• UNO-X MOBILITY
• CORRATEC - VINI FANTINI
• TEAM POLTI KOMETA
• TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM
• VF GROUP-BARDIANI CSF- FAIZANE'

 

[pastronef]

Corratec got the 2023 wild card because Tudor didn't accept the invite. it was bound to happen that they'd stay home for 2024. Bardiani is lucky Lotto skipped the Giro again.
now let's see how the Vuelta goes (I'd say leave Euskaltel and Caja home)

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Wish they could leave Israel home for a couple of these races to allow a bit more variety, but no, the UCI had to run scared of Sylvain Adams' lawyers. System of "guaranteed wildcard" is pathetic and an oxymoron.

Israel are actually a better and more interesting team than many of the alternatives, but it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy because the fact they have that guaranteed invite that makes them a WorldTour team by proxy means it's easier for them to attract talents than anybody else at the ProTeam level, and the way Adams conducts his business means I'd rather see them miss out every so often to knock them down a peg or two and remind him that they're a ProTeam because they failed to be a WorldTour team on merit.

 

[staubsauger]

Tour de France: Israel, Lotto, Uno-X & Total.
No surprises.

Dauphine: Israel, Lotto, Uno-X & Q36,5.
Interesting to see Total being dumped here.

Total goes to the Tour de Suisse regularly. . So no need to invite them to the Dauphine as well. They're too weak to fill 2 competitive teams.

Ironic indeed, that Q36.5 with a Swiss license gets the wildcard for the Dauphine, but likely doesn't ride the Tour de Suisse then!