Although in place for several years, only in 2022 did some World Tour teams start paying attention to the UCI rankings. With those now crucial for several teams who look to keep their position at the highest level, it has caused dissatisfaction in many, Michael Woods concluded.
In a Twitter post Woods called to "get rid of the relegation system", as it "forces teams to run triple programs throughout the season". Several teams are having a loaded calendar throughout the last few months, and some - including Woods' Israel - Premier Tech - have made changes in lineups to favour their chances of scoring higher points and assuring their position.
Woods argued that "the World Tour should only by the WT. Peloton sizes need to be reduced and the calendar needs [to] follow a more logical travel pattern". Earlier this year, Woods also called for the end of time-trial bikes on time-trials - a discipline which coincidentally he has big issues with.
Israel, according to the last update, are quite far behind the red line which was occupied by Movistar Team and are in severe risk of relegation. Woods was one of the team's key parts to protect it in the final two months of racing, but he abandoned the Vuelta a Espana after a crash - leaving the team with lesser capabilities of scoring points. The situation is not favourable to the team, which is slowly becoming likely to be riding at Pro Team level in 2023.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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