World Tour may expand to 20 teams to avoid relegation criticism | UPDATE: UCI rejects changes

The promotion, relegation and maintenance fight has been one of the most critical topics of the year as several teams fight to keep their World Tour status, and over the last few months many have changed their schedules, prevented riders from competing in certain races, and have put out all the stops to prevent relegation.

The current system sees the Top18 teams over the span of the last three years obtain a World Tour license for the 2023-2025 seasons. The points are obtained throughout the year, but favours those focusing on one-day races as many have pointed out, and many have equally criticized. Adding to that, only the 10 best scoring riders of each team have their points counted towards the classification, effectively bringing in further criticism.

Many teams and riders have publicly criticized this classification, but they may get their wish granted: Cyclingnews have reported that the possibility of the World Tour lineup expanding to 20 teams is being considered. This would be a big change that would see all teams maintain, whilst Alpecin-Deceuninck and Arkéa Samsic rise to World Tour.

Whilst the idea had been shut down in previous months, the rise of complaints and risk of a legal battle with several teams who want to keep their team's future alive and well has seen this become a possibility. The situation is ongoing with no official announcements, however comments are expected from high UCI representatives regarding the topic.

Update: The claims have made the UCI come forward to reject the possibility of changes. In a press release issues hours after, stating that "these decisions were taken unanimously by the PCC" which includes the riders', teams' and organizers' representatives. The decision to implant the system was unanimously accepted years before and reaffirmed in late 2020, and they will not be changed in the meantime.

The UCI confirmed that "contrary to recent public reporting, no decision to modify the rules in force has been taken" and that "the UCI Licence Commission is charged with awarding UCI WorldTour licences on the basis of the rules in force."