UCI Points update | Israel - Premier Tech set to relegate as Woods abandons and Froome struggles at Vuelta a Espana
Cycling
The season still has over month and a half of racing left, but it seems as if Israel - Premier Tech will not be able to maintain their spot at World Tour level as their Vuelta a Espana team suffered immensely through the opening weekend.
On the most recent UCI update from Raúl Banqueri, the Israeli team is now 980 points behind Movistar Team. who has seen Alex Aranburu thrive at the Tour de Limousin, bringing in an important win - with 280 points won since the last update. The Spanish team is not in an easy position, but it has extended it's buffer to Lotto Soudal too despite the Arnaud De Lie's win at Schaal Sels. In the same period, Israel scored a meaningless 16 points, has seen Michael Woods abandon the Vuelta a Espana with injuries, and Chris Froome not being able to keep up with the team in the team time-trial.
Although the team has cards to play outside the Vuelta, the task is beginning to reach a level which may not be solvable as each week the time window narrows. Israel sit 350 points behind Lotto Soudal.
The same 350 points exactly is what separated Movistar Team - currently 18th - from 14th place as Arkéa recently joined the battle for the World Tour spot. Team BikeExchange - Jayco, EF Education - EasyPost and Cofidis all sit very close to each other in the standings, with every race being meaningful in their calendar.
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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.
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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)...
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Relegation battle update: Ewan's crash in Hamburg stops Lotto's comeback. De Lie alone is not enough for salvation. Israel seems destined for relegation after Woods' crash in #LaVuelta22 and their erratic planning. Full analysis with more graphics 👇
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