Analysis: Teams with options of acquiring WorldTour license in 2024 if Jumbo and Quick-Step merge

The impending merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-Quick-Step promises to grab headlines in the coming weeks, with the goal of completing all the paperwork before the 2024 season. However, deadlines for submitting paperwork to the UCI are looming, meaning ProTeams interested in obtaining a potentially vacant WorldTour license must act quickly.

The folks at WielerFlits have compiled a list of the main candidates for this hypothetical license, which we summarize below:

Israel-Premier Tech.

The team most determined to acquire Soudal-Quick-Step's WorldTour license is Israel-Premier Tech, owned by the wealthy Sylvan Adams. Despite being relegated from the WorldTour last season, they won a wildcard to compete in all WorldTour races except the grand tours. They are currently ranked second in the ProTeams classification, which would give them the right to move up to the WorldTour after 2025. To strengthen their ambition, they have added four sprinters and three promising sprint talents, including Pascal Ackermann, Hugo Hofstetter and Ethan Vernon.

Lotto Dstny.

Although Lotto Dstny leads the ProTeams classification in 2023, overtaking Israel-Premier Tech, they are not interested in acquiring the WorldTour license that could become available after the merger. According to CEO Stéphane Heulot, they do not consider the license to be available for free and prefer gradual growth year after year.

Q36.5 Pro Cycling.

Despite having a major investor and the potential support of Pinarello, Q36.5 Pro Cycling has decided not to accelerate its entry into the WorldTour and is still in the process of building. They prefer to give their riders time to develop before making the jump to the highest level.

TotalEnergies could be an ally for Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step in the merger. They currently occupy fourth position in the battle for guaranteed wildcards. With the purchase of the WorldTour license, they could be present in all major races next year and also have room for more acquisitions. Collaboration with other teams could be beneficial, but it is unclear whether team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau is willing to consider this option.

Tietema-Unibet Tour.

The Tour de Tietema-Unibet team respects the hierarchy of cycling and does not plan to jump directly to the WorldTour. They prefer to follow the order of club, Continental and ProTeam before considering a possible entry into the WorldTour.

Tudor Pro Cycling.

Tudor Pro Cycling, another Swiss team in its first year, is showing ambition to move up to the WorldTour. They have added promising talent, but it is not yet known if they wish to acquire a WorldTour license.

Uno-X Pro Cycling.

Uno-X Pro Cycling is interested in acquiring Soudal Quick-Step's WorldTour license, but with conditions. They are not willing to take on existing debts or structures, but consider their team ready for the move to the WorldTour.

UCI regulations state that a WorldTour license can only be transferred to a third party two years after its launch, which could complicate the merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step. However, a loophole has been found in the past to carry out such transactions, which could open the door in the coming days.