The low season is over and the 2025 marketing campaign is upon us. Who will punch above their weight? Who will battle for outcomes? And who will even be within the WorldTour in 2026?
Certainly, relegation is among the themes of the season, as we enter the ultimate section of the three-year rolling rating that can determine the attribution of males’s WorldTour licences from 2026-2028.
Elsewhere, we now have the battle for superiority on the very high of the UCI World Rating, with Visma-Lease a Bike out for revenge after UAE Group Emirates’ – and specifically Tadej Pogačar’s – unbelievable 2024 season.
We’ve groups like Lidl-Trek and Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe seeking to break into the super-team occasion, and we now have the previous dominators, Ineos Grenadiers, in a state of turmoil. In between, we now have a big mid-pack scrapping for each victory and podium they will get their arms on.
Right here, Cyclingnews takes a more in-depth have a look at all 18 males’s WorldTour groups, selecting out their key riders and their overarching ambitions for the season forward.
UCI World Rating 2024: 8Key riders: Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper PhilipsenRider to observe: Quentin Hermans
Alpecin-Deceuninck’s win tally of 26 in 2024 was their lowest for the reason that COVID pandemic struck, however the place they dropped off barely in uncooked numbers they greater than made up for when it comes to high quality: Milan-San Remo (Jasper Philipsen), the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix double (Mathieu van der Poel) and three Tour de France phases (Philipsen).
If there’s one query mark it’s why Van der Poel’s success was so restricted to at least one three-week interval within the Spring, however you then bear in mind these exploits within the rainbow jersey and it’s sufficient to hold a profession on, by no means thoughts a season. These two have been the 2 key pillars for the Roodhooft brothers’ staff in 2024, and it appears positive to remain that method in 2025.
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With little to put in writing house about within the switch market, the 2 massive items of enterprise have been to increase each Van der Poel’s and Philipsen’s contracts – amid competitors for the latter. Classics and Sprints are the main focus, then, with no nice prospects within the stage racing division, however that may wait – the rise of this staff thus far over the previous half-decade has been nothing wanting outstanding.
UCI World Rating 2024: 19Key riders: Arnaud Démare, Luca MozzatoRider to observe: Kevin Vauquelin
The French staff face a nerve-racking season, with a relegation battle that begins from day one – to not point out the sponsorship search. They managed to achieve a ticket to biking’s high tier on the expense of some massive squads in 2023 however two years into the three-year rating that can decide the 18 WorldTour licences from 2026, they sit nineteenth. The staff struggled for wins in 2024 however the rise of Kevin Vauquelin, who received a stage of the Tour de France, was a serious increase.
Now’s the time to get the perfect out of the 23-year-old Frenchman earlier than he strikes on. Arnaud Démare had a tough first full season with the squad in 2024 however the French sprinter stays their biggest-name, highest-paid rider, who shoulders a great deal of the accountability in 2025.
The staff’s largest points-scorer final season was in truth Luca Mozzato, who pulled off a shocking runner-up end on the Tour of Flanders. If he can function on that degree extra typically, if Démare can get again to profitable massive races, and if Vauquelin can take one other step ahead, then they may simply stand an opportunity of staying up.
UCI World Rating 2024: 17Key riders: Antonio Tiberi, Santiago Buitrago, Matteo Mohorič, Pello BilbaoOne to observe: Lenny Martinez
Bahrain Victorious head into 2025 on the again of a reasonably lifeless season. They registered 13 wins however languished in seventeenth within the UCI staff rankings, having garnered 50% fewer factors than they did in 2023, and much lower than once they have been flying in 2021.
The brightest spark was Antonio Tiberi, the Italian who Bahrain picked up when nobody wished him after his killing of a cat. In return for the controversy, they acquired a rider who has all of the sudden sprouted right into a stage racing power, putting fifth on the Giro d’Italia, in addition to profitable the Tour of Luxembourg. He appears like somebody they will construct behind in 2025.
The identical goes for Santiago Buitrago, who continues to develop as a GC rider, with a top-10 now to his title within the Tour de France. In the meantime, Matej Mohorič and Pello Bilbao didn’t have classic seasons in 2024 however are two focal factors who’re sensational on their day.
Becoming a member of them on the high desk is new signing Lenny Martinez from Groupama-FDJ. Many of the new faces are promotions from the staff’s affiliated growth squad, however the pocket rocket is an electrical climber who can actually win massive races in 2025. There’s greater than sufficient to raise them out of final yr’s stoop.
UCI World Rating 2024: 20Key riders: Dylan Teuns, Ion IzaguirreOne to observe: Emanuel Buchmann
Cofidis are one other of the groups combating relegation in 2025. They did OK in 2023 however have been solely the Twentieth-best staff on this planet in 2024, which leaves them hovering dangerously in 18th place within the three-year rating, simply above the purple line.
Shedding their high 2024 factors scorer, Axel Zingle, who’s off to Visma, is not going to assist issues. Neither will shedding their conventional stage race chief, Guillaume Martin, who has chipped in with Grand Tour high 10s of their colors. Nonetheless, their listing of signings does give trigger for optimism. Dylan Teuns arrives from Bahrain Victorious (a staff the place likewise he was snapped as much as rating factors) so as to add some top-level high quality to the roster.
Emanuel Buchmann fell out of favour at Bora however has completed fourth on the Tour de France, whereas Simon Carr is an intriguing expertise who can win massive from breakaways. Bryan Coquard will lead the sprints having claimed his first WorldTour win final yr, whereas Ion Izaguirre nonetheless appears recent at 35 after putting fourth at Il Lombardia.
UCI World Rating 2024: 6Key riders: Felix Gall, Benoit Cosnefroy, Sam BennettOne to observe: Paul Seixas
Can Decathlon stick with it, or will they endure the tough second album syndrome? The French staff have been round for many years, however after a number of seasons of mid-table mediocrity, they have been reborn in 2024 as sports activities retailing big Decathlon got here on board as sponsor.
There have been no main new signings and so the reasonably priced Van Rysel bikes have been credited with a outstanding upturn in outcomes; Decathlon ended the yr sixth within the UCI staff rankings, growing their 2023 UCI factors haul by 50%. And now for the issue. 1 / 4 of their factors have been scored by Ben O’Connor, who’s shifting to Jayco-AlUla. Have they lined up a alternative? No. Paul Seixas and Johannes Staune-Mittet are thrilling prospects for the longer term however for 2025 Decathlon lack a top-level stage race rider, and a pacesetter typically.
Felix Gall might be referred to as upon to take the reins and does have the climbing high quality on his day, whereas Benôit Cosnefroy confirmed flashes of his previous potential within the hilly Classics final yr. Decathlon might actually do with once-dominant sprinter Sam Bennett getting his profession again on monitor, whereas the remainder might be left to Frenchmen Aurelien Paret-Peintre and Paul Lapeira.
UCI World Rating 2024: 12Key riders: Richard Carapaz, Neilson PowlessOne to observe: Darren Rafferty
EF Schooling-EasyPost have misplaced a talisman heading into 2025, with Rigoberto Urán, the person who successfully saved the staff after his 2017 Tour de France podium, heading into retirement. That stated, the Colombian wasn’t contributing a lot in the way in which of outcomes previously few years.
The larger loss is that of Alberto Bettiol, the high-class Italian puncheur, however in comes Kasper Asgreen, a former winner of the Tour of Flanders. The Dane has laboured previously couple of years, with no scarcity of harm problems, however soared within the Classics in his pomp, and remains to be solely 29. Can EF unlock that previous magic? On a one-year punt, it’s precisely the form of deal that supervisor Jonathan Vaughters has constructed his staff on in recent times.
One break from that custom was to signal confirmed Grand Tour podium contender Richard Carapaz a few years in the past, and whereas that didn’t bear fruit initially, the Ecuadorian received a stage of the Tour final yr and positioned fourth on the Vuelta. Hopes might be excessive they will kick on and money in in 2025.
Past Carapaz, Neilson Powless is the staff’s excellent rider, most suited to hilly Classics and breakaways, however there’s loads of high quality from the likes of Ben Healy and Hugh Carthy. And if it doesn’t go properly on the street, they all the time have Lachlan Morton flying the flag and maximising publicity in gravel and no matter loopy journey’s subsequent up his sleeve.
UCI World Rating 2024: 10Key riders: Stefan Kung, David GauduOne to observe: Romain Gregoire
The long-running French staff have misplaced two of their most enjoyable riders as they head into the 2025 season, with Classics revelation Laurence Pithie shifting to Pink Bull and younger French pocket climber Lenny Martinez off to Bahrain – that one, specifically, will sting for the French staff.
Nonetheless, they’re going to take coronary heart from the truth that neither Martinez nor Pithie have been of their high 4 UCI factors scorers in 2024. High of that listing was Stefan Küng, a star time triallist who has additionally been knocking on the door of an enormous Classics victory. Valentin Madouas is one other sturdy Classics rider, as is Romain Gregoire, a younger expertise notably suited to the Ardennes.
The opposite of these massive 4 points-scorers was David Gaudu, whose struggles appeared to be deepening all through the 2024 season till he popped up with sixth on the Vuelta. Time trialling stays a serious Achilles heel for the staff’s stage race chief however that was at the very least one thing to construct on. The brand new signings aren’t overly inspiring although Guillaume Martin’s transfer from French rivals Cofidis does catch the attention – the Frenchman is commonly ridiculed for his yo-yoing racing type however does assault and does often scratch the highest 10s in massive races.
UCI World Rating 2024: 7Key riders: Carlos Rodriguez, Geraint Thomas, Josh TarlingOne to observe: Artem Schmidt
Ineos Grenadiers head into the 2025 season with monumental query marks hanging over them, after a season through which not solely fell wanting expectations however noticed the wheels begin to fall off the entire operation. The British staff, as soon as the dominant power in professional biking, might solely handle seventh within the staff rankings, their tally of 14 victories the bottom of their historical past.
The paucity of massive wins got here with a rolling snowball of unfavorable headlines, from the MIA Steve Cummings to the controversy surrounding the de-selection of Tom Pidcock at Il Lombardia and the British star’s subsequent determination to terminate his contract and transfer groups. Ineos removed Rod Ellingworth forward of 2024 and regarded to place a brand new administration construction in place, however with Dave Brailsford busy at Manchester United alongside staff proprietor Jim Ratcliffe, the staff look as listless as ever.
With Ineos shedding Pidcock in addition to their second-highest level scorer, Jhonatan Narvaez and stalwart Luke Rowe, it is exhausting to see them upping the ante with the riders they’ve introduced in. Carlos Rodríguez is the staff’s stage race chief, whereas 38-year-old Geraint Thomas stays evergreen, however neither is an enormous favorite for a Grand Tour title.
If Egan Bernal, although, can proceed to inch again in direction of his greatest, that might be a very thrilling prospect. Filippo Ganna and Josh Tarling are two of the perfect time triallists on this planet, with the latter a possible Classics contender alongside Magnus Sheffield, whereas Axel Laurance has been added for punchy sprints. Nevertheless it’s exhausting to see Ineos making good on their intentions to problem UAE and Visma in 2025.
UCI World Rating 2024: 15Key riders: Biniam GirmayOne to observe: Hugo Web page
The Belgian squad nonetheless have work to do to keep up their WorldTour standing, however they’ve established themselves as worthy members of the game’s high tier, which didn’t look so evident when the staff purchased into the WorldTour three years in the past.
They’ve an enormous star of their ranks in Biniam Girmay, and the staff as an entire appears to be being managed with higher care, tradition and innovation than appeared to be the case only some years in the past. Nonetheless, they want each ounce of that, given their roster is among the many weakest within the WorldTour, they usually have not achieved a lot strengthening forward of 2025.
Gerben Thijssen can combine with the world’s greatest sprinters, whereas there are alternatives for the smaller races, however the star of the present is way and away the Eritrean trailblazer Girmay. Earlier feats comparable to his Gent-Wevelgem victory and Giro d’Italia stage felt like huge moments, and so did his first Tour de France stage win final yr in equity. However the way in which he kicked on to 2 extra phases plus the inexperienced jersey final summer time suggests a person actually settling into his stride now.
UCI World Rating 2024: 14Key riders: Ben O’Connor, Caleb Ewan, Dylan GroenewegenOne to observe: Anders Foldager
There’s one thing of a altering of the guard because the Australian staff wave goodbye to their long-time chief Simon Yates, who appears to have agreed to a super-domestique position at Visma. There’s plenty of historical past between rider and staff and it’ll have been an emotional goodbye.
In steps one other Grand Tour chief in Ben O’Connor, a house Aussie rider who has had some nice years at AG2R. After putting fourth on the 2021 Tour de France, he led the Vuelta final yr for a very long time earlier than putting runner-up. He may need steadily shipped the lead he constructed up in a breakaway, however the remainder of O’Connor’s 2024 outcomes sheet confirms he is one of many high stage racers on this planet, and Jayco ought to see some good returns.
The remainder of the signings are nowhere close to as excessive profile, so it is over to the present massive names to ship, not least the sprinting duo of Caleb Ewan and Dylan Groenewegen. The duo struck eight instances between them final yr, and realistically that should considerably improve if the staff are to raise themselves up the rankings – relegation isn’t precisely looming however we’ve seen earlier than how one poor season can see an enormous staff sucked in.
UCI World Rating 2024: 4Key riders: Mads Pedersen, Jonathan Milan, Mattias Skjelmose, Tao Geoghegan HartOne to observe: Thibau Nys
It’s been 18 months since grocery store big Lidl got here on board to take the Italo-US staff to new heights, they usually’ve actually made progress, with extra anticipated in 2025. Lennard Kamna is a powerful signing for the right here and now, and Albert Philipsen is one for the longer term, however the staff have been quieter within the switch market this time round, with a big chunk of their 2025 squad intact.
Which means the burly Jonathan Milan profitable a few of the largest sprints with one of many strongest lead-out trains. It means Mattias Skjelmose persevering with to get higher and higher stage race outcomes. It means Mads Pedersen taking the battle to the highest two Classics riders and profitable loads of races in addition to. And it means Thibau Nys, one of many brightest abilities, taking one other step ahead after his storming debut in 2024.
Once you add in Giulio Ciccone and Tao Geoghegan Hart, each of whom had disrupted seasons however might be proper up there in Grand Excursions, you’ve gotten an thrilling staff combating on all fronts. Lidl brightened up the jersey they usually’ve achieved the identical to your entire spirit of the squad, who might be out to cement themselves among the many world’s super-teams.
UCI World Rating 2024: 13Key riders: Enric MasOne to observe: Pablo Castrillo
Having flirted with relegation within the earlier cycle, Movistar have extra room for consolation this trip, however of their post-Valverde world, they’ve slumped right into a somewhat uninspiring state of affairs.
Enric Mas stays the staff’s figurehead and contributed with one other Vuelta podium, and several other extra main high 10s in addition to, however past the Spaniard issues are very skinny on the bottom for a staff of Movistar’s stature and historical past. The following man who earned them a good serving to of factors, Alex Aranburu, is off to Cofidis subsequent yr. However there may be, in equity, an thrilling new face by means of the door.
Pablo Castrillo was one of many revelations of final yr’s Vuelta, profitable two phases within the colors of Kern Pharma, and Movistar noticed off some feisty competitors for his signature. In a staff that is ever-keen to accommodate the largest Spanish names, he slots straight into a number one position.
In the meantime, Einero Rubio continues to impress, even ending seventh on the Giro d’Italia which suggests he might develop in three-week solidity. Movistar ought to keep away from relegation once more however past Mas and a few others, there’s little to actually get enthusiastic about.
UCI World Rating 2024: 16Key riders: Romain Bardet, Fabio JakobsenOnes to observe: Max Poole, Oscar Onley
A brand new title for Iwan Spekenbrink’s Dutch staff, who’re one of many groups who’ll have the specter of relegation lurking over their shoulder in 2025. They’ve not had a fantastic couple of years, but it surely seems like there’s extra potential on this squad. They’ve chief Romain Bardet for less than half a season longer, so the remainder of the riders might want to step up.
The obvious division is sprinting, the place Fabio Jakobsen was the high-profile signing 12 months in the past however endured a torrid debut season with the staff. He was virtually outdated within the pecking order by Tobias Lund Andersen, and it will be attention-grabbing to see how way more progress the Dane could make in 2025, and the way administration juggles issues.
They’ve a behavior of sharing issues round however will that trigger confusion and friction? Elsewhere, essentially the most thrilling riders are the British duo of Max Poole and Oscar Onley. Each have been held again by harm in 2024 however have the potential to do massive issues in stage racing in 2025.
UCI World Rating 2024: 5Key riders: Primož Roglič, Jai Hindley, Dani MartínezOnes to observe: Laurence Pithie, Oier Lazkano, Giulio Pellizzari
The expansion of the German staff continues. After a strong first season beneath Pink Bull branding in 2024, larger and higher issues are being eyed up in 2025. Primož Roglič arrived final yr and received them a Grand Tour on the Vuelta, however they’re going to need extra, throughout the board.
In comes the revelation of the 2024 Classics, Laurence Pithie, alongside the revelation of the 2023 Classics, Oier Lazkano, to not point out Omloop winner Jan Tratnik – a Slovenian ally of Roglic’s. Pink Bull have been first to the signature of the thrilling Italian climber Giulio Pellizzari, whereas Finn Fisher-Black might be a shrewd signing from rivals UAE.
They’re shedding Lennard Kämna – able to massive issues – and Sergio Higuita amongst others but it surely appears like a good refresh, particularly for the cobbled Classics. Elsewhere, Roglic leads the Grand Tour line however Jai Hindley, Dani Martínez, and Aleksandr Vlasov are all succesful leaders in their very own proper, whereas Sam Welsford can win the largest sprints on his day. 2025 may not be the yr when Pink Bull actually challenges UAE and Visma, but it surely might characterize one step nearer.
UCI World Rating 2024: 3Key riders: Remco Evenepoel, Tim MerlierOne to observe: Ethan Hayter
It is a new period for the long-running Belgian staff, who’ve been shepherded by Patrick Lefevere since 2003 however should now discover their method with out the inimitable Belgian boss. Lefevere was one thing of a throwback, a divisive determine who did issues on his phrases and all the time pointed to his monitor report of outcomes when anyone kicked up a fuss. With out showering him with reward or criticism right here, it is honest to name Lefevere a towering determine within the sport and it is exhausting to see how the tradition of this staff would not shift or dilute in his absence.
The alternative, Julien Foré, is extra of a businessman than a biking man, so we’re prone to see extra of a cut up between the brand new CEO working the corporate and one other determine stepping up into extra of a number one sports activities administration position – somewhat than Lefevere doing each.
On the street, Remco Evenepoel remains to be hanging round and he represents the beating coronary heart. The 24-year-old was already a Grand Tour winner and now has a Tour de France podium on debut to his title, to not point out his unbelievable Olympic double. The staff have stated goodbye to two-time world champ Julian Alaphilippe, in addition to former Tour of Flanders winner Kasper Asgreen. Whereas the previous had dried up when it comes to outcomes, the latter represents a recent blow to the staff’s Classics credentials.
As soon as the kings of the Spring, QuickStep have turn out to be more and more Evenepoel-centric and have been decreased to bit-part gamers within the main one-dayers. Max Schachmann returns to the staff, and Ethan Hayter arrives – each will assist in that division however have query marks surrounding their capacity to ship on their potential.
The staff does nonetheless have one of many world’s high sprinters in Tim Merlier, so whereas Luke Lamperti and Paul Magnier are coming by means of, it appears prefer it’s on Merlier and Evenepoel to guide the road. The times of insanely excessive Lefevere win counts already appear to be fading…
UCI World Rating 2024: 1Key riders: Tadej Pogačar, Adam Yates, Juan Ayuso, João AlmeidaOne to observe: Isaac del Toro
If Tadej Pogačar was a staff, he’d have completed eleventh within the UCI rankings in 2024. There are various methods to attempt to put the Slovenian’s season into perspective however with 25 victories, together with the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championships street race, it was one of many biggest campaigns of all time. This can be a rider who suffered for 2 Excursions in a row however is now trying like he might beat anybody on one leg.
2025, then, might be about seeing whether or not he can proceed to stretch his palmarès to much more extraordinary proportions. The worrying factor for the opposite groups is that UAE aren’t a one-man staff anymore. There are such a lot of top-level riders it might take too lengthy to say all of them, however Adam Yates simply will get higher and higher, João Almeida stays strong, Brandon McNulty looks as if he nonetheless has extra to present, and Juan Ayuso faces an enormous yr as he appears to claim his standing within the pecking order.
In the meantime, the staff’s funding in youth is paying off, with enormous pleasure surrounding Isaac del Toro after his eye-catching neo-pro marketing campaign. It is one thing of a carousel already, with the staff welcoming 18-year-old Pablo Torres on a contract that runs by means of 2030 – an indication that this staff intends to proceed to dominate this sport for a few years to return.
UCI World Rating 2024: 2Key riders: Jonas Vingegaard, Wout van Aert, Matteo JorgensonOne to observe: Thomas Gloag
From all three Grand Excursions in 2023 to zero Grand Excursions, 2024 was the yr through which Visma-Lease a Bike got here again to earth, albeit with a mild touchdown somewhat than a thud. Jonas Vingegaard was roundly crushed on the Tour de France by Tadej Pogačar. The Dane received each different stage race he completed however his season was marred by severe accidents sustained within the Spring at Itzulia Basque Nation.
The staff’s different star man, Wout van Aert, suffered a Spring crash of his personal that took him out of Flanders and Roubaix – but extra heartbreak for the Belgian. These accidents left the staff trying just a little skinny, they usually might properly have regretted the choice to permit Primož Roglič to go away final yr. Both method, Vingegaard and Van Aert stay the 2 figureheads of this staff, and if each can keep injury-free then they will ship the staff again to dizzier heights. Simon Yates has been snapped up as a luxurious domestique, so Visma will nonetheless have an unbelievable Grand Tour first eight, and with Van Aert flanked by Matteo Jorgensen, Christophe Laporte, and Dylan van Baarle, they’ve the strongest Classics collective on this planet.
Jorgensen particularly was a revelation final yr, and never simply within the Classics, so will probably be fascinating to see what heights he can attain this yr, and which route he takes his profession. In the meantime, Cian Uijdtebroeks was snapped up amid a lot controversy this time final yr however had a debut season to neglect amid claims of persistent accidents – if he can come good on his promise he’ll really feel like a top-level new signing himself. Visma might have misplaced their perch because the world’s high staff, however they nonetheless have the standard and depth to get it again.
UCI World Rating 2024: 21Key riders: Alberto Bettiol, Sergio Higuita, Diego UlissiOne to observe: Clément Champouissin
Final on the listing, and positively not least, the Astana staff are arguably essentially the most attention-grabbing prospect on the altering of the seasons. There is a new title sponsor, with these three letters representing a major funding from China. Rumours of a correct Chinese language plunge into the WorldTour have circled for years and this appears to be the primary main step.
Likewise, query marks have swirled over Chinese language carbon however XDS’ bikes will mark a debut within the WorldTour for Chinese language bike manufacturing. It stays to be seen fairly how formidable the brand new sponsors are, however this actually represents an enlargement past the staff’s Kazakhstani essence. And boy how they wanted it; Astana have virtually sleepwalked right into a relegation battle. They at present lie Twentieth within the three-year rating and wish an enormous shift in momentum for XDS to nonetheless say they sponsor a WorldTour staff in 2026. The ‘ins’ listing on their switch sheet actually appears like that of a staff in panic mode, and with a bit additional cash to spend than in earlier years.
Alberto Bettiol is a high-calibre rider and instantly turns into their linchpin in 2025, particularly with the departure of Alexey Lutsenko, which itself marks a serious turning level in his standing as the house star of the Kazakhstani venture. Wout Poels and Diego Ulissi are of their late 30s however the former remains to be an aesthetic operator and the latter nonetheless a factors magnet in smaller races, whereas Colombian climber Sergio Higuita is able to being up there within the largest races on his day. There isn’t any Mark Cavendish, however this seems like a staff that languidly wasn’t trying far past his Tour de France report pursuit and has now all of the sudden woken up.
