UCI Points update | Israel - Premier Tech set to relegate as Woods abandons and Froome struggles at Vuelta a Espana

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.