World Tour Wildcards 2026

[staubsauger]

for UAE Tour? If less than 15 teams confirmed their pariticpation until 30 days before the start, they can be allowed to invite CT teams. I guess this may have been the case?

That makes sense in contrary to Wielerflits framing!

 

[search]

That makes sense in contrary to Wielerflits framing!

I hadn't seen the article before. I think they have a point, but RCS may have made use of a loophole there, probably not violating the rules.

The rules say:

If thirty days prior to the event, the number of confirmed teams remains below the minimum required [15 Teams], and subject to the organiser providing evidence to the UCI that all UCI Women’s WorldTeams and UCI Women’s ProTeams have been duly invited to participate in the event, the UCI may authorise the organiser, as a first step, to invite UCI Women’s Continental Teams registered in the host country, and as a second step, to invite any other UCI Women’s Continental Teams.

The UAE Tour had to send out mandatory invitations to the 14 WWT teams, Euskadi and Volker Wessels. Euskadi apparently denied (as they are not on the start list), meaning if Volker Wessels didn't confirm it until 30 days before, they could make use of the "any other UCI Women’s Continental Teams" clause. And then still go on to confirm Volker Wessels and others later on.

This likely won't work too often though

 

[Samu Cuenca]

for UAE Tour? If less than 15 teams confirmed their pariticpation until 30 days before the start, they can be allowed to invite CT teams. I guess this may have been the case?

It could be true and they can always say that's the reason. Laboral Kutxa must have declined their invitation, but that should have happened at least 50 days before the race according to the regulations.

It doesn't really feel like a coincidence that they've landed on exactly 20 participating teams like in previous years, nor that they have invited three CT teams that have nearly all taken part in every single edition so far, and that two of them are Italian.

I will be surprised if we don't see CT teams in the Giro as well, and they will possibly also have to invite some to the Vuelta, too. There simply won't be enough teams racing otherwise (I can't imagine that Nexetis won't get to ride the Swiss events either, although it is possible for them to race as the national team instead). It's a UCI loller rule because it has been implemented at the wrong time.

 

[search]

yeah, I guess if the teams agree, the organisers can make some deals to get around the limitations. Both sides just have to wait with the official confirmation until they are inside the 30 days. No idea if this happened here, though.

The "mandatory invitations" document also was only uploaded to the UCI site two weeks ago, so maybe this leads to some exceptions for early races.

 

[Boris98]

Isn't MBH Hungarian ?

They do have an Hungarian license, sponsor and some riders. However, the team has Italian roots and rode previously with an Italian license. Also the majority of their riders and staff are Italian.

 

[pastronef]

this is getting silly, Burgos gets a Gent-Wevelgem wild card too

Omloop, Kuurne, Gent, Dwars, Ronde, Liege and Vuelta (2nd year in a row)

luckily Unibet gets Gent too (together with Strade and Sanremo)

 

[Tim Cahill]

Proper cycling fans are excited to see what Jambaljamts Sainbayar can do on the Kemmelberg after his surprise attacks in the 2024 Olympics and reasonable 6th last month in Pune Grand Tour.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Proper cycling fans are excited to see what Jambaljamts Sainbayar can do on the Kemmelberg after his surprise attacks in the 2024 Olympics and reasonable 6th last month in Pune Grand Tour.

Tbf, he's more of a climber than the typical Mongolian rouleur-sprinter.

 

[staubsauger]

If RCS offers their final wildcard to Cofidis & Caja Rujal while both reject their invitation. Can the Giro d'Italia build a case out of it to invite either Soloution Tech or MBH Bank like they've done in the women's field!?

Wouldn't be surprised if their lawyer looks into this currently before inviting Unibet.

 

[yaco]

If RCS offers their final wildcard to Cofidis & Caja Rujal while both reject their invitation. Can the Giro d'Italia build a case out of it to invite either Soloution Tech or MBH Bank like they've done in the women's field!?

Wouldn't be surprised if their lawyer looks into this currently before inviting Unibet.

Why would RCS not wish to invite Unibet?