The UCI has decided - 1 extra wildcard for each Grand Tour from 2025 onwards
Cycling
Four wildcards were always given to Pro Teams for wildcards into the Grand Tours. In recent years, two automatic wildcards were given to the ProTeams who had scored the most UCI points the previous season - if they wish - but now a new rule emerges, and it makes a big difference!
"The UCI Management Committee has approved the request submitted by the PCC to increase the number of teams participating in the men's Grand Tours (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and La Vuelta Ciclista a España) to 23 starting this year," the UCI announced in a press release this morning.
"Their number was previously limited to 22 (the 18 UCI WorldTeams, the two best UCI ProTeams in the UCI World Team Ranking from the previous season, which receive a compulsory invitation thanks to their ranking, and two UCI ProTeams chosen by each organiser). The organizers concerned will therefore be able to award three wildcards."
Whilst the automatic wildcard teams can refuse to participate in the race, usually it is not the case and only two teams have the opportunity to take the leftover wildcards. More and more, the choices are difficult with so many quality teams. This should mean at the GIro d'Italia, joining Israel - Premier Tech, we should have Team Polti VisitMalta, VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè, but the final wildcard will probably not be fought between Tudor Pro Cycling Team and Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, but instead be given to both. The likes of Tom Pidcock, Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi may all be present at the Corsa Rosa.
"The arguments put forward for accepting this proposal were mainly based on the need to support second division teams (UCI ProTeams), while enabling organisers to strengthen the line-up for their race and giving riders from the additional teams the opportunity to compete in a Grand Tour," the UCI argued.
It is expected that there will be some backlash, as it is a measure that benefits the ProTeam status whilst not having the budgetary restraints of World Tour teams, but overall it could lead to more action in the race itself with an extra team in the mix.
The number of teams participating in the men's Grand Tours increased to 23 by the UCI Management Committee https://t.co/InOlmFTY5Z pic.twitter.com/PCHZtY9xnC
— UCI_media (@UCI_media) March 31, 2025
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