The official UCI rankings for 2026 are out and with them listed below are the ultimate promotion and relegation standings. Uno-X, Lotto-Intermarché and Israel-PremierTech ought to transfer as much as the World Tour whereas Cofidis get relegated… but it surely’s not but so simple as that.
The crimson line within the chart above marks 18th place, these groups above are eligible for the World Tour within the subsequent three 12 months cycle throughout 2026-2028 whereas these under aren’t. It’s not the topic of the piece however you may see UAE with over 40,000 factors this season alone, solely the following six groups after them scored as a lot throughout three seasons.
Look nearer on the chart above and you may see how promotion candidates Lotto made it because of a robust haul in earlier years once they’ve had a dire season. And so they’re merging with Intermarché which fared even worse this 12 months.
Uno-X pip Cofidis for the final place above the crimson line, simply 397 factors between them over three seasons.
Arkéa-B&B Motels get relegated too. However that’s a footnote given the group received’t exist subsequent 12 months. The group did nicely to qualify for the World Tour by scoring beaucoup factors throughout the 2020-2022 seasons however then appeared just like the proverbial canine that chases automobiles, it didn’t know what to do as soon as it caught a World Tour licence. It solely had one World Tour win in its three years on the high though another outcomes right here and there to be pleased with.
This chart exhibits the relegation contest throughout the season. Two issues stand out: first is how far again XDS-Astana began and the way they’ve saved climbing all season; the second is the crimson line of Cofidis and the way it’s been comparatively flat.
On the finish of Might Cofidis have been simply forward of XDS-Astana, Picnic-PostNL and nicely forward Uno-X however the group stalled within the Tour and Vuelta and different summer season races. Picnic-PostNL saved trying like they’d the standard to remain up and Oscar Onley’s summer season saved them.
It’s not so easy, half IThere could be a last rely and in earlier years some groups have contacted the UCI to get errors mounted and guarantee lacking factors are counted. However the gaps concerned are too large right here. Plus having checked the scores for Cofidis there’s no likelihood of a final minute attraction. Some outcomes web sites record Stanisław Aniołkowski with 641 factors whereas the UCI put him on 626. However there’s no scandal, it’s as a result of you may compute 641 factors from his race outcomes however he additionally received a 15 level penalty from the commissaires which hasn’t been logged.
It’s not so easy, half IIThe rankings above illustrate the “sporting standards” as as to whether a group is eligible for the World Tour or not. However that is one criterion and it solely applies after the admin, monetary, organisation and moral standards have been met. This evaluation course of is underway now and lasts round a month.
So we will assume that Lotto-Intermarché works as a merger but it surely’s as much as the UCI and its auditors to evaluation the legality and the funding in place for the group. If all is nice then they need to get again into the World Tour, let’s hope. However at the moment it’s conditional.
Likewise Israel-PremierTech has scored loads of factors but it surely’s on them to point out the UCI a sound venture for 2026 given the group is making an attempt to vary id and its chief backer Sylvan Adams goes to step away from the group, at the very least by way of talking for the group but when he decides to cut back the funding this could possibly be vital. There’s no signal to say that is going to occur, so once more we must assume the group is promoted however there are inquiries to reply. That’s what the licence course of is for.
The identical goes for all the opposite World Tour groups, we must always assume that they get authorized for subsequent season that’s the entire level of the annual evaluation occurring within the background now. For instance if Deceuninck is stepping again as a title sponsor, does Alpecin have the price range given there’s no named substitute, and so forth.
All this implies we’re assuming 18 WorldTeams for 2026 and it’s a good situation but it surely’s not but sure. A nasty shock for one group and perhaps Cofidis stays within the the World Tour? They’ve truly utilized for a World Tour licence, it’s prudent to do that. It’s one motive why the promotion and relegation battle in professional biking might be for insiders because it’s not as clear minimize because the arithmetic of a league desk in soccer or basketball.
Three 12 months cycle, annual reviewWhile the licence attribution is for the following three seasons, there may be all the time an annual evaluation. This issues for Lotto-Intermarché as Belgium has handed a legislation banning playing promoting in all varieties together with lotteries, scratchcards and many others. There’s been an exemption for shirt sponsorship till the tip of 2027 which has allowed Lotto to proceed. 2028 may appear distant however it will likely be felt quickly, if the group approaches a rider subsequent spring with a two 12 months contract, ie 2027+2028 they and their agent will wish to know what the group will do if its prime backer is quickly banned from sponsoring the group.
Computerized invitesAssuming there are 18 World Tour groups for 2026 then the top-3 groups from the 2025 rankings that aren’t within the World Tour qualify for a wildcard subsequent 12 months. Tudor Professional Biking is nicely clear right here with Q36.5 and Cofidis subsequent. They’ll all welcome this safety.
WildcardsThere are two locations left for the grand excursions. New for 2026 is {that a} group should be among the many top-30 groups on the earlier season’s rankings. So among the many candidates for a grand tour begin Resolution Tech-Vini Fantini aren’t eligible for the Giro d’Italia as they’re in thirty first place, pipped by VF Bardiani in thirtieth place. Equally Euskaltel-Euskadi are in thirty fourth place and so can’t hope for a Vuelta a España invite both.
Ladies’s World TourThere’s been much less of a contest right here for the 2024-2025 two 12 months cycle to be within the top-15 groups. EF-Oatly and VolkerWessels are eligible on the expense of Ceratizit and Roland-Le Dévoluy that are stopping. However solely the US group is making use of to affix the World Tour, the Dutch group will as an alternative qualify for computerized invites VolkerWessels alongside Laboral Kutxa-Euskadi as the 2 greatest groups outdoors of the Ladies’s World Tour.
ConclusionXDS-Astana did it towards the chances however who noticed Uno-X getting promoted this time final 12 months? Nonetheless an admin asterisk awaits, one conclusion is it’s onerous to be conclusive at the moment. The official rankings are out at the moment and by way of the rely the merging Lotto-Intermarché group, Israel-PremierTech and Uno-X are eligible for promotion to the World Tour whereas Cofidis are relegated and Arkéa-B&B cease. It’s probably the most possible situation however not but sure as within the background the UCI is reviewing every group’s viability.
One other three 12 months cycle begins now throughout the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons for the boys’s and ladies’s groups alike.
