Tom Pidcock and Julian Alaphilippe listen up! Will the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana have an extra wildcard slot in 2025?

In professional cycling, Grand Tours such as the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana represent the pinnacle of stage racing, attracting elite teams, riders, and sponsor from around the globe. Traditionally, the peloton comprises 18 UCI WorldTeams, which are granted automatic entry due to their top-tier status. In addition to these, organizers have the discretion to invite a select number of UCI ProTeams through wildcard entries. These wildcards are coveted opportunities for ProTeams to compete on cycling's grandest stages, offering them exposure, experience, and the chance to showcase their talents against the world's best.

The decision of which teams are given wildcards, can therefore be absolutely crucial.

According to Cyclingnews, in recent days both RCS Sport, the organizer of the Giro d'Italia, and Unipublic, which manages the Vuelta a Espana have petitioned the UCI for an additional wildcard slot for their 2025 editions of their respective grand tours. If approved, this would increase the number of participating teams in each race to 23. The primary motivation behind this request is to accommodate the growing number of ProTeams vying for a place in these Grand Tours. By securing an extra slot, organisers aim to include more deserving teams, therefore enhancing the competitive landscape of the races.

The role of wildcards in Grand Tours cannot be overstated. For ProTeams, receiving a wildcard is a significant achievement, providing them with a platform to compete at the highest level, and draw more sponsors to their team. It also offers riders invaluable experience and exposure, which can be instrumental in securing future sponsorships and elevating the team's profile. For race organisers, wildcards allow the inclusion of teams that can animate the race, engage local fan bases, and uphold national interests. Just thin back to last years Vuelta, when Equipo Kern Pharma won 3 races as a wildcard team.

However, the allocation of wildcards is a complex process influenced by various factors, including team performance, nationality, sponsorship considerations, and strategic interests of the organisers. The limited number of available wildcards makes the selection process highly competitive, often leading to difficult decisions and, at times, controversy. The current standard permits organisers to invite up to four ProTeams, but two of these invitations are automatically extended to the top-ranked ProTeams from the previous season, as per UCI regulations. This system leaves organisers with only two discretionary wildcards, intensifying the competition among the remaining ProTeams. But who will be selected in 2025?

The request for an additional wildcard by the Giro and Vuelta organisers reflects the increasing depth and quality of ProTeams, with a number of high profile riders leaving WorldTour teams throughout the winter. Teams such as Tudor Pro Cycling, bolstered by riders like Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi, and Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, strengthened by none other than double Olympic champion Tom Pidcock. Of course, without the wildcards, riders like Pidcock and Alaphilippe could be forced to race 2025 outside of the sport’s most important events.

However, expanding the wildcard to include an extra team raises concerns, particularly regarding safety. A larger peloton can lead to increased congestion on narrow roads, elevating the risk of accidents, something cycling already is having huge issues with. Moreover, logistical challenges such as accommodation, transportation, and race support become more complex with additional teams, and the UCI has historically been cautious about increasing peloton sizes due to these concerns. In previous instances, while exceptions have been made to allow extra wildcards, the governing body has emphasised the importance of maintaining manageable peloton sizes to ensure rider safety and race integrity.

The decision to grant an additional wildcard also carries huge financial implications. Each additional team adds to the organisational costs, including accommodations, security, and support services, and that’s just naming a few. Organisers must find a way to balance what’s possible, with their desire to have all the big names at the big races.

The request by the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana organizers for an extra wildcard in 2025 could certainly enhance the competition and provide valuable opportunities for emerging squads, but it is imperative to balance these benefits against safety considerations and logistical constraints. The UCI's decision will need to carefully consider all these factors to uphold the integrity and safety of the sport.