“We proved that we were good enough to be there" - ProTeams voice growing frustration over UCI wildcard allocations

Following reports that the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana could receive an additional wildcard slot in 2025, frustration continues to grow among ProTeams regarding the current selection process. Wielerflits recently spoke with several team managers to understand their expectations, strategies, and the importance of wildcard invitations for their squads.

For TotalEnergies, the Tour de France remains the sole objective. Team manager Thibaut Macé emphasised their track record, stating, “We are only going for the Tour. We proved last year that we are worthy of participating. We booked a great stage win and took second place with Matteo Vercher. In terms of sport, we got the most out of it, like every year in the Tour. We would like to do that again. In any case, we have the capabilities.”

Macé also pointed to the team’s historical presence in the race. “Our trump card is continuity. You can’t forget that we have a history with the Tour. We have proven ourselves not only in terms of results, but also in terms of attacking spirit. We animate the race, we go for it. We respond to the public’s will and thus create more attention for the activity. In stages that no one wanted to go for it, we did. In terms of sport, we have also continued to make progress, with Anthony Turgis’ stage victory as the highlight.”

Missing out on a wildcard would be a significant setback for the team. “We are a French team. We have French sponsors. For the French, the Tour is one of those two or three top events in the world that we drop everything for, along with the World Cup and the Olympic Games. All the riders, teams and sponsors want to be part of that. If that doesn’t work out, it’s a disaster for us.”

On the possibility of more wildcard slots, Macé remained neutral. “That’s not a question that’s on my mind, to be honest. I suspect that these are the debates that the big organizers are having with the UCI, but we as a team are in the position that we have to wait and see. I think they should act faster. How else can teams prepare themselves optimally?”

Uno-X Mobility has participated in the last two editions of the Tour de France, and team boss Christian Andersen is hopeful for another invitation. “The Tour is definitely our main priority, but we are open to everything. ASO was happy with our participation after the previous two editions, we were told afterwards. In the discussions with the organization, there are only 'good vibes'. However, you never really have certainty. We are preparing with the underlying idea of being one hundred percent ready for the Tour.”

Andersen believes the team proved itself in previous years. “We proved that we were good enough to be there. We did our utmost and were ‘in the game’ the entire Tour. Last year in particular I thought we took another step, and we should be able to do the same this year. I think we deserve it, but I can’t say that other teams don’t deserve it.”

On the possibility of more wildcard slots, Andersen remains cautious. “The Tour de France is the number one race in the world, I don’t doubt that for a second. There is no other race that comes close in terms of global attention. That says enough, right?”

“There are many teams that have the qualities to start in the Tour, but I also understand that there has to be a limit somewhere. Otherwise, the teams will keep asking for extra teams and you will end up with forty or fifty teams. That causes major safety problems that we cannot live with. I am especially curious about the new system from 2026. I have heard rumours that serious changes are on the way.”

Tudor Pro Cycling remains in contention for both the Tour and the Giro d’Italia. “We’ll wait and see, like everyone else. We expect to have one anyway, but we have to respect the decision of the organizers. We’ve had a good start to the season. It was important to show ourselves right away and we hope it helps. We’re still in the running for both the Tour and the Giro.”

The team believes their style of racing makes them a strong candidate. “Because of our way of racing. We take our responsibility when we participate in a race. We are a team with unity and ambition. We have good riders new to the team who will help us put ourselves on the map. That mix can help us, but Uno-X has a nice project. Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi are very popular and are also part of the strategy.”

On the importance of the Tour, Tudor emphasised their ambitions. “We have some of the greatest riders in the world in our ranks with Alaphilippe and Hirschi. Those guys just want to be at the start of those Grand Tours, and we have to prove as a team that we can give them what they want by putting them at the start. In addition, the Tour is a global showcase for our partners to put them in, which you don’t want to miss.”

Blanquefort supports expanding the number of wildcards. “Yes. Just for the business of cycling. For the teams and their sponsors, that would be a good thing, and that would make it more attractive for sponsors to invest in the teams and cycling. But the UCI decides.”

Q36.5 Pro Cycling, which now boasts Tom Pidcock in its squad, sees the Giro and Vuelta as more realistic targets. “If I'm really honest, at the moment we're mainly looking at the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. The Tour is going to be very difficult for us, but in those other two rounds we have bigger hopes.”

The team manager highlighted their depth beyond Pidcock. “We have gained credibility in a short time and have proven that we are well structured. Moreover, we are a team that you will see on all terrains. For the sprint we have Matteo Moschetti, for the general classification Tom Pidcock, and then there are many strong riders for the days in breakaways. David De La Cruz has also ridden top 10 in the Vuelta three times and Daniel Howson is a regular. We are really more than just Team Pidcock.”

For Q36.5, securing a Grand Tour wildcard is crucial to maintaining sponsorship support. “We have big companies as partners. If we don’t bring them to a Grand Tour, with the Tour as the highest possible, then it will be the third year in a row that we have to disappoint them. Gradually they can lose interest in investing any more money. Grand Tours simply have the biggest impact on television and provide the most attention. So it is crucial to be there.”

On the debate over wildcard slots, Sans Vega argued, “Of course. That could open up a good opportunity for three teams. It is also less stressful for organizers to make decisions. It is a complex situation, we understand that. But one should not say that it is a safety issue with one extra team. In hectic races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, even more teams participate. Why can't that be possible in a grand tour?”

As ProTeams fight for limited wildcard spots, the debate over additional invitations continues. With the possibility of extra wildcards at the Giro and Vuelta, attention now turns to whether the Tour de France will follow suit.