UCI points update: With the Grand Tours approaching, Israel and Lotto remain under serious pressure
Cycling
The new UCI points update has been given by Raúl Banqueri and it shows little chances in comparison with the last one - however, every point will matter at the end of the season and the teams are well aware.
Lotto Soudal have yesterday announced the signing of Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Carlos Barbero who will surely have as a goal pile on as many points as possible from May onwards. The Belgian team remains in the last spot of those contesting World Tour status, and has seen Israel - Premier Tech carve the gap for 19th place further as Michael Woods and Jakob Fuglsang rode into form in the recent Ardennes classics.
Cofidis sit in 18th in the last maintenance spot, leading Israel - Premier Tech by 891 points and Lotto Soudal by 1169 points. The gap is meaningful, and the French team has too ramped up their results with some strong results lately, and a one-two at the Classic Grand Besançon Doubs from Jesús Herrada and Victor Lafay which kept the gap alive and healthy. Above sit Team BikeExchange - Jayco and EF Education - EasyPost who see Movistar also overtake them as Alejandro Valverde stormed to second at Flèche Wallone and seventh at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
If Lotto Soudal and Israel - Premier Tech are relegated, they will also have to contest for their spot in the automatic wildcard fight, in which both sit behind TotalEnergies - however here, Lotto Soudal would be able to secure wildcards for all World Tour races, having a gap of around 800 points over the Israeli team over the course of the current season.
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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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Actualización de la lucha por el descenso: Lotto Soudal intenta salvarse a la desesperada con los fichajes de Barbero y van Rensburg, pero lo tienen muy complicado tras las Ardenas. Valverde sostiene una vez más al Movistar en las Ardenas. Análisis completo con más gráficos 👇
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