On Monday, the International Cycling Union (UCI) decided on an important rule change for the 2025 season. In future, 23 teams will be allowed to compete in the three grand tours Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España instead of the current 22. The UCI Management Committee approved a corresponding application from the Professional Cycling Council (PCC). This gives the Grand Tour organisers the opportunity to award a third wildcard. Until now, the number of participants in the three-week stage races was limited to 22 teams. These are made up of the 18 World Tour teams, the two best Pro teams from the previous season and two wildcards of the organiser's choice. As a result of the rule change, the organisers can now award an additional wildcard to a pro team, what the Tour de France has already done.
Reasoning of the UCI
The UCI cited the support of the second-class Pro Teams as the main reason for the decision. In addition, the organisers could strengthen the starting field for their races. The riders of the additional teams would also have the opportunity to take part in a Grand Tour. However, the UCI emphasised that sporting fairness and the priority of sporting performance must continue to be upheld. However, the rule change will initially only apply to the 2025 season.
What about security?
The increase in the number of teams also raises questions - particularly with regard to safety. Crash chaos at Bruges-De Panne The race has been in full swing again in recent weeks. An additional team will increase the number of riders in the peloton from 176 at Grand Tours to 184. More riders = more safety? A dubious equation.
The second point of criticism of the UCI's decision is sporting fairness. Why is there a three-year ranking system that decides on promotion and relegation and thus regulates the automatic right to start in Grand Tours if the UCI simply cancels out this system by expanding it to 23 teams in the Grand Tours?
How does the World Tour system work?
Professional cycling is divided into a league system. In the first league, the World Tour, there are 18 so-called World Teams. Below them in the second league are the Pro Teams. The teams in the World Tour have an automatic right or obligation to start in the biggest cycling races such as the Tour de France. The two best Pro Teams of the previous season also have such automatic starting rights - but do not have to make use of them.
The licences for the World Teams are reissued every three years on the basis of economic and organisational criteria, but above all on the basis of sporting criteria - the UCI points collected. The teams can collect UCI points at all races. At the end of a three-year cycle, the points collected during this period are taken into account and the two weakest teams are relegated from the World Tour to the Pro Teams. Conversely, the two best Pro Teams are promoted to the World Teams. At the end of 2025, the points are calculated again and the licences are reallocated.
The status in the UCI three-year ranking (31/03/2025)
- UAE Team Emirates - XRG (World Team) 76278 Points
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike (World Team) 53304 Points
- Soudal Quick-Step (World Team) 40188 Points
- Lidl - Trek (World Team) 38766 Points
- INEOS Grenadiers (World Team) 37806 Points
- Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe (World Team) 33796 Points
- Alpecin - Deceuninck (World Team) 32611 Points
- Groupama - FDJ (World Team) 29097 Points
- Bahrain - Victorious (World Team) 28281 Points
- Lotto (Pro Team) 28118 Points
- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team (World Team) 27192 Points
- EF Education - EasyPost (World Team) 25409 Points
- Movistar Team (World Team) 24877 Points
- Israel - Premier Tech (Pro Team) 24176 Points
- Team Jayco AlUla (World Team) 23492 Points
- Intermarché - Wanty (World Team) 21946 Points
- Cofidis (World Team) 20470 Points
- Team Picnic PostNL (World Team) 20382 Points
- Uno-X Mobility (Pro Team) 18360 Points
- XDS Astana Team (World Team) 18116 Points
- Arkéa - B&B Hotels (World Team) 17223 Points
- Team TotalEnergies (Pro Team) 12169 Points
- Tudor Pro Cycling Team (Pro Team) 10697 Points
- Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team (Pro Team) 8985 Points
- VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè (Pro Team) 6927 Points
More flexible rules for catering zones
In addition to increasing the number of participants in the Grand Tours, the UCI Management Committee also decided to make changes to the rules for catering zones. Based on the experience of the first few months after the reintroduction of the restriction of these zones to certain areas, the regulations are to be made more flexible. The organisers will be given more leeway in the positioning of the catering zones. In addition, riders and support staff (maximum of three per zone) should be able to approach these zones under better conditions, particularly in terms of safety. In order to prevent risky behaviour in the refreshment zones, in future Yellow cards be imposed.
