UCI WorldTour Explained: The Hidden Structure Behind Pro Cycling's Elite Races 🚴♂️

Ever wondered what makes the Tour de France so special? Or why some teams seem to be at every major race while others show up only occasionally?

The UCI WorldTour—professional cycling's premier competition circuit—holds the answers, and it's recently gotten a serious shake-up!

For 2023, the WorldTour saw a whopping 28% increase in available points, with over 308,903 points now up for grabs across its prestigious calendar. That's not just a tiny tweak—it's a complete revamp of how cycling's elite are ranked and rewarded!

Founded back in 2009, this elite cycling tour features 38 events including the three Grand Tours (think Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España) and five Monument one-day races that represent cycling's most hallowed traditions.

"Wait, why did they change the points system?" 🤔 — Every cycling fan in 2023

Great question! With 18 registered teams battling at the highest level, the WorldTour needed to create a more competitive environment. The 2023 overhaul increased points for Grand Tours and Monuments by 1.6 times and expanded rewards to the top 15 finishers in Grand Tour stages—previously only the top 5 riders earned points!

Ready to dive into cycling's most prestigious racing series? In this guide, we'll unpack everything from team classifications and race categories to the complex points system that determines which teams stay at the sport's top tier—and which face relegation.

Clip in and let's roll! 🚴♂️

UCI WorldTour Hierarchy and Team Classifications

"It's like a food chain, but for bikes!" 🚲 — How I explain pro cycling tiers to my confused friends

Professional cycling isn't just a bunch of riders in colorful lycra racing around France. Nope! It's a highly structured world with clear tiers, rules, and yes—a surprising amount of paperwork.

Let's break down who's who in the cycling zoo!

UCI WorldTeams vs ProTeams vs Continental Teams

The cycling world follows a three-level pyramid that determines everything from who races where to how much riders get paid:

WorldTeams are the big dogs of cycling—the premium 18 squads sitting at the sport's pinnacle [12]. Think UAE Team Emirates (Tadej Pogačar's team) or Jumbo-Visma (Jonas Vingegaard's squad). These teams must race in all WorldTour events, including the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix [13]. No skipping allowed! This mandatory participation ensures fans see the best riders at the biggest races.

ProTeams occupy the middle tier (formerly called Pro Continental—cycling loves rebranding things!). These squads mainly race second-tier events but can snag coveted "wildcard" invitations to WorldTour races [13]. Teams like Alpecin-Fenix and Rally often serve as launching pads for tomorrow's stars. Each ProTeam must employ at least 20 riders plus support staff including 3 team managers and 5 support folks (mechanics, medics, etc.) [13].

Continental Teams form the entry-level division. These smaller outfits race primarily in their geographic region (Europe, Asia, Americas, etc.) [13] and rarely get invited to the big WorldTour showdowns. Think of them as cycling's minor leagues—where future talent develops before the big call-up.

Want to spot the difference at races? Just check who has automatic entry! For top-level races (coded as 1.UWT or 2.UWT), WorldTeams must show up, while ProTeams need special invitations [13]. For second-tier events (1.Pro/2.Pro), organizers can only fill 70% of spots with WorldTeams, leaving room for hungrier ProTeams and Continental squads [13].

Minimum Salary and Roster Requirements for WorldTour Teams

The financial gap between cycling's tiers is massive—like Grand Canyon massive:

Salary Standards: The average WorldTour rider makes about €500,000 ($530,000) annually [13]. But don't let that number fool you! The UCI minimum for WorldTour riders will only reach €44,150 by 2025 [13]—less than 10% of the average. First-year pros (called "neo-pros" in cycling-speak) earn even less, with minimums rising to €35,721 by 2025 [2].

Women's cycling continues closing the gap, with WorldTour minimums climbing to €38,000 by 2025 [2]. Meanwhile, Continental riders sometimes earn nothing or—yikes—actually pay to race [2]. Yes, you read that right!

Roster Requirements: Being a WorldTeam comes with strict rules:

• One trainer for every 8-10 riders [2] (no overworked coaches here!)

• One sports director per eight riders maximum [2]

• A dedicated head doctor [2]

WorldTeam riders face an 85-day racing limit per season [2]—a rule protecting riders from being raced into the ground. Teams typically carry 28-30 riders, though during COVID, the UCI temporarily bumped this to 32 for 2021, then 31 for 2022, before settling back at 30 for 2023 [14].

With great privilege comes great regulation! WorldTeams face the most rules but get guaranteed spots at cycling's marquee events. A fair trade? Most teams think so—the fight to stay in (or move up to) the WorldTour gets fiercer every year!

Race Classification System and Event Tiers

"1.UWT? 2.Pro? Is this a secret code or something?" 🧩

Yep, cycling's race system looks like algebra homework at first glance! But don't worry—it's actually pretty clever once you crack the code.

1.UWT vs 2.Pro vs 1.1: Understanding UCI Race Codes

Cycling's governing body (the UCI) categorizes races with a simple two-part system that tells you exactly what you're watching:

The first number? Super easy: 1 means one-day race, 2 means stage race that spans multiple days. The letters after the decimal point? That's the race's prestige level [8]. Let me break it down:

WorldTour Events (UWT) are cycling's Broadway shows—the absolute premium races coded as 1.UWT (one-day) or 2.UWT (stage races). All 18 WorldTeams must show up—no excuses, no sick notes [8]. Think Paris-Roubaix (the "Hell of the North") or the Tour de France (cycling's Super Bowl).

ProSeries Events (Pro) are the solid second-tier races marked as 1.Pro or 2.Pro. These events welcome WorldTeams (but cap them at 70% of participants), ProTeams, local Continental teams, and up to two foreign Continental squads [8]. Races like Paris-Tours and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne fit here—prestigious but not quite at the top.

Continental Calendar Events (1 & 2) make up the third level, labeled as 1.1/2.1 and 1.2/2.2. The 1.1/2.1 races allow some WorldTeams (maximum 50%), while 1.2/2.2 competitions are basically development leagues [8]. These races are where tomorrow's stars often get their first big results!

Monuments, Grand Tours, and Stage Races Explained

Monuments 🏛️ are cycling's ancient treasures—five legendary one-day races that cyclists dream about winning from childhood. Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Il Lombardia stand apart through their brutal length (240-300 km), difficulty, and histories dating back before World War I [9]. As 1.UWT events, they dish out more UCI points than any other one-day races [9]. Win one of these, and you're cycling royalty for life!

Grand Tours 👑 are the three-week monsters that dominate cycling's calendar: Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España [10]. These 2.UWT behemoths get special treatment—they're allowed to run longer than the normal 14-day maximum for other stage races [10]. Points-wise, they're gold mines: The Tour awards 1,000 UCI points to its champion, while the Giro and Vuelta winners pocket 850 points each [11]. That's a huge chunk of a team's season total!

Other Stage Races include week-long tests like Paris-Nice (called the "Race to the Sun"), Tirreno-Adriatico (crossing Italy), and Tour de Suisse [11]. These races, typically marked as 2.UWT or 2.Pro, serve as Grand Tour appetizers and chances for riders to show off their fitness throughout the year.

Good news for underdog fans! Starting in 2025, Grand Tours will host 23 teams (up from 22), letting organizers hand out three wildcards instead of two [12]. That means more chances for ProTeams to crash the big party and challenge cycling's elite squads!

Building the UCI WorldTour Calendar

"Creating the WorldTour calendar is like planning the perfect wedding—everybody wants their special day, but not everyone can have the Saturday in June!" 📅 — How race organizers probably feel

Ever wondered who decides which races make the cut for cycling's elite calendar? It's not just picking the coolest races—it's a carefully orchestrated dance balancing tradition, money, and global appeal.

How Events Are Selected for the UCI World Tour Calendar

The UCI doesn't just throw darts at a map to pick WorldTour races. They follow a structured three-year registration cycle that keeps things (mostly) stable while allowing for fresh blood.

For the upcoming 2026-2028 period, current WorldTour and ProSeries events can apply, plus exciting new races from strategically important regions [13]. The selection process looks at:

• Does the event fit nicely in the existing calendar? (No squishing 10 races into one weekend!)

• Will it make money and attract viewers? (TV ratings matter!)

• Is it interesting from a racing perspective? (Nobody wants to watch 200km of nothing happening)

• Does it follow all UCI rules and guidelines? [13]

This three-year evaluation system gives race organizers some breathing room—imagine completely redoing your calendar every year! Back in 2017, the UCI showed it wasn't afraid of growth, expanding the WorldTour from 27 to 37 events [2]. New events joining this exclusive club get a three-year trial period before becoming permanent fixtures [2]. Think of it as a probation period for races!

Mandatory Participation Rules for UCI WorldTeams

What makes a WorldTour race special? Simple: the best teams must show up! This mandatory participation requirement is the secret sauce that separates WorldTour from everything else [14].

Starting in 2026, the UCI is rolling out modified participation rules that require all 18 WorldTeams to race in:

• The three Grand Tours (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España)

• All five Monument classics (Milano-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Il Lombardia) [15]

For the other WorldTour events, teams can pick one race to skip. But—and this is important—no more than four WorldTeams can bail on the same event, and teams can't skip the same race more than once during the three-year cycle [16]. If a WorldTeam doesn't show up, their spot goes to a hungry ProTeam [15].

The rules weren't always this strict. Back in 2017, participation was actually "voluntary" for newly added WorldTour events [2]. This flexibility helped teams manage their resources when the calendar expanded to include overlapping races. After all, even WorldTeams can't be in two places at once!

UCI Points System Mechanics: Follow the Numbers!

"Points make prizes... and determine your team's entire future!" 📊 — What keeps team managers awake at night

Did your eyes just glaze over at the mention of "UCI points system"? I get it! But stick with me—this seemingly boring subject is actually fascinating once you realize it's the invisible force driving nearly every decision in pro cycling.

In 2023, the UCI completely redesigned its points system, increasing the total available points by 28% [1]. This wasn't just a tiny adjustment—it was a complete rebuild that shook up cycling's competitive balance!

Tier-Based Points Allocation for GC and Stage Wins

The Tour de France sits on the absolute throne of cycling's points pyramid, offering a jaw-dropping 1,300 points to its champion [3]. Just below, the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España reward their winners with 1,100 points each [14].

The five Monument classics? They got a massive boost too, now dishing out 800 points for victory [17]—that's 1.6 times more than previous seasons [1]! Win Paris-Roubaix and you've basically secured your team's future for months!

Stage wins follow the same hierarchical pattern. A Tour de France daily victory now brings home 210 points compared to just 120 previously [18]. Even the jersey competitions (think green for sprinters, polka dot for climbers) saw their rewards nearly doubled [19], making those secondary classifications worth fighting for like never before.

Top 20 Rider Rule: The Game-Changer (2023–2025)

Here's where things get really interesting! Before 2023, teams counted only their top 10 riders' points. Now? The top 20 riders count [1]!

"Why the change?" you might ask. According to officials, it aims to "reduce pressure currently imposed on only a limited number of riders" [1]—potentially cutting down injury risks and doping temptations. Makes sense, right?

But wait—like any rule change, there are winners and losers! This modification massively benefits teams with deep rosters (hello, UAE Team Emirates and QuickStep) while hurting ProTeams with smaller squads [1]. Here's a mind-blowing fact: despite being cycling's dominant force, Tadej Pogačar's share of UAE's total points ranked only fourth-highest among WorldTour teams [20]. That's how incredibly deep their talent pool runs!

Stage Races: The Points Goldmine

Want to know how dramatically the game has changed? Stage races, especially Grand Tours, now drive the points bus more than ever before.

Previously, individual stage results accounted for just 37% of Grand Tour points. Today? They make up a whopping 66% [18]! In practical terms, this means teams don't necessarily need a overall contender to rake in serious points—stage hunters can bring home the bacon too!

The difference is staggering: Take Hugh Carthy's two fourth-place finishes in the 2022 Giro d'Italia stages. Under the old system, he earned a measly 24 points. Under today's rules? He'd bag 160 points—a mind-boggling 567% increase [1]! 🤯

No wonder teams are completely rethinking their strategies! When a fourth place on a single stage is worth more than many smaller races' overall victories, you start making very different decisions about where to send your best riders.

Results and Discussion: Promotion, Relegation, and Wildcards

Welcome to cycling's version of musical chairs! 🎭

Remember how we used to pick teams as kids? "You're in, you're out..." Well, pro cycling does basically the same thing—except with million-dollar budgets and careers on the line.

The UCI's promotion and relegation system creates a high-stakes battle where teams fight for precious WorldTour status through relentless point-hunting across multiple seasons. Let's break down how it works!

Triennial Ranking System for WorldTour Licenses

Think of WorldTour licenses like exclusive three-year club memberships. The UCI evaluates teams based on a three-year performance window, with the current cycle running from 2023 through 2025 [21]. When this period ends, only the top 18 ranked teams get WorldTour licenses for the next three years (2026-2028) [4].

Each team's ranking comes from their annual points total, calculated using their 20 best-performing riders [5]. This expanded metric (previously counting just 10 riders) helps "reduce pressure currently imposed on only a limited number of riders" and fights against "negative consequences" like injury risks and doping temptations [1].

The math is simple but brutal: finish outside the top 18, and you're relegated. No appeals, no exceptions—just cold, hard numbers.

Wildcard Invitations for Top ProTeams

"But what happens if my team gets relegated?" 😰

Don't panic completely! ProTeams that narrowly miss the WorldTour cut still get some pretty sweet consolation prizes. The two highest-ranked ProTeams receive mandatory invitations to all WorldTour events, essentially functioning as WorldTour teams without the fancy title [4].

For Grand Tours specifically, organizers must invite these top two ProTeams alongside the 18 WorldTeams [22]. And good news for the underdogs—the UCI recently expanded Grand Tour participation to 23 teams for 2025, allowing organizers to hand out three wildcards instead of just two [12]. That's one more team getting their shot at cycling's biggest stage!

Case Study: Israel–Premier Tech and the 2023 Rule Exception

Want to see how relegation plays out in real life? After their 2022 relegation, Israel-Premier Tech became an interesting case study in cycling's complex politics.

Despite dropping out of the WorldTour, the team received unprecedented special treatment from the UCI. Though they lost automatic Grand Tour access, they somehow secured guaranteed invitations to all other WorldTour races for 2023 [23]. The UCI justified this exception as a way of "maintaining stability within teams" during the "significant upheaval due to the global pandemic" [5].

Here's the plot twist: relegation wasn't the death sentence everyone feared! Israel-Premier Tech bounced back strongly throughout 2023-2024, positioning themselves for a triumphant return to WorldTour status [24]. In fact, both Israel-Premier Tech and fellow relegated team Lotto Dstny currently sit comfortably inside the top 18, suggesting they'll likely reclaim their WorldTour status for 2026-2028 [25].

The moral of the story? Sometimes a step down can lead to two steps forward—if you've got the points to prove you belong at the top!

Limitations of the Current UCI WorldTour Framework

"Perfect system? More like perfectly imperfect!" 🤔 — What many cycling insiders are thinking

The UCI WorldTour has plenty of shiny parts, fancy rules, and complex structure—but like any system designed by humans, it's got some serious flaws. Let's look at what's making teams and race organizers pull their hair out!

Disadvantages for Smaller ProTeams with Limited Rosters

Remember that switch from counting top 10 riders to top 20 riders for team rankings? Sounds fair on paper, right? Well, not if you're a smaller team!

This change created a massive disadvantage for ProTeams with limited rosters. Teams like Uno-X, Q36.5, and Bingoal simply don't have 20 riders capable of scoring significant points [1]. Imagine playing basketball but your opponent gets to field 10 players while you only have 7!

For these smaller squads, getting wildcard invitations to Grand Tours isn't just about prestige—it's survival. Race director Ezequiel Mosquera puts it bluntly: "If we don't bring them to a Grand Tour... it will be the third year in a row that we have to disappoint sponsors. Gradually they can lose interest in investing any more money" [6]. No TV exposure means no sponsor interest. No sponsor interest means no team!

The gap between cycling's haves and have-nots grows wider every year. Former UCI president Verbruggen nailed it when he warned about "too much budget discrepancy between teams," leading to "dull races" dominated by wealthy organizations [26]. When UAE Team Emirates spends €50 million while small ProTeams operate on €5 million, is anyone surprised at the results?

Overemphasis on Grand Tours in Points Distribution

"Wait, why is my team skipping that beautiful historic race to go to this random one-day event instead?" 🧐

The points system has completely hijacked race selection. Teams now build their calendars around maximizing points rather than playing to their strengths or honoring cycling traditions [7]. It's like choosing your vacation destination based on frequent flyer miles instead of places you actually want to visit!

Mosquera calls the current system "wrong, absurd, indefensible and outrageously disproportionate." His most striking example? "Jonas Vingegaard can win three difficult stages and the general classification and get the same points as the runner-up in the Clasica de Almeria" [7]. Let that sink in—dominating the world's biggest race might earn you the same points as coming second in a minor one-day event!

The consequences are real: teams are increasingly abandoning smaller stage races in favor of points-rich one-day competitions. According to many insiders, this problem is actively "changing the foundations of cycling" [7] by pushing teams toward strategic points hunting rather than participating in diverse race formats.

The sport we all love risks becoming a calculated points game rather than the beautiful, unpredictable spectacle that drew us to it in the first place. When teams make decisions based on spreadsheets rather than sporting ambition, everybody loses—except maybe the accountants!

Conclusion: What's It All Mean for Cycling's Future?

So what's the big picture here? Professional cycling's premier circuit continues evolving—sometimes for better, sometimes for... well, let's just say "interesting" directions.

The 2023 points system overhaul—with its massive 28% increase in available points—shows the UCI is serious about modernizing the sport. But as we've seen, not all changes create the fairness they're aiming for.

"Sometimes the medicine is worse than the disease!" — What smaller teams might be thinking right now

The current system creates some tough challenges, especially for smaller ProTeams. With limited rosters fighting against superteams counting 20 riders deep, it's like bringing a knife to a gunfight. And that heavy emphasis on Grand Tours? It's pushing teams toward points-hunting rather than racing where they shine or preserving cycling's beautiful diversity.

Finding the perfect balance between competitive fairness and cycling's rich traditions isn't easy. It's like trying to modernize a classic car—you want new performance without losing what made it special in the first place.

Looking toward 2026-2028, we'll see even more changes coming: modified participation rules and expanded Grand Tour team limits among them. These adjustments show the UCI is listening to feedback, even as they push for more commercial appeal. Whether these changes will fix the current problems remains to be seen.

Why does all this matter to fans? Because understanding the WorldTour's complex structure—from team classifications to race categories to promotion/relegation battles—helps explain why teams make the decisions they do. Why did your favorite team skip that historic race? Why is that promising young rider suddenly at a different event? The answer usually comes down to points.

The invisible framework of rules, points, and classifications shapes everything about modern professional cycling. It determines which teams show up at which races, which riders get selected, and ultimately, what kind of racing we all get to watch.

The question remains: will future changes preserve what we love about cycling while fixing what's broken? Only time will tell—but at least now you understand the rules of the game!

FAQs

Q1. What are the main divisions of professional cycling teams? Professional cycling teams are divided into three main categories: UCI WorldTeams at the top level, followed by ProTeams (formerly Pro Continental), and Continental Teams. WorldTeams compete in all UCI WorldTour events, while ProTeams and Continental Teams primarily race in lower-tier competitions but can receive wildcard invitations to some WorldTour races.

Q2. How does the UCI WorldTour points system work? The UCI WorldTour points system awards points to riders based on their performance in races throughout the season. Points are allocated differently for various race types and finishing positions, with Grand Tours and Monuments offering the most points. Team rankings are calculated using the points of their top 20 riders, which determines WorldTour status and race invitations.

Q3. What is the significance of the UCI WorldTour calendar? The UCI WorldTour calendar comprises the most prestigious races in professional cycling, including Grand Tours, Monuments, and other high-profile events. WorldTeams are required to participate in most of these races, ensuring top talent at premier events. The calendar is carefully constructed to balance geographic distribution, sporting significance, and commercial considerations.

Q4. How does promotion and relegation work in professional cycling? The UCI uses a three-year performance window to evaluate teams for WorldTour status. At the end of each cycle, the top 18 ranked teams secure WorldTour licenses for the next three years. Teams that don't make the cut are relegated to ProTeam status, while top-performing ProTeams can be promoted to WorldTour status if they rank within the top 18.

Q5. What are some limitations of the current UCI WorldTour system? The current system has been criticized for disadvantaging smaller ProTeams with limited rosters, as points are now counted from the top 20 riders instead of 10. Additionally, there's an overemphasis on Grand Tours in points distribution, which can lead teams to prioritize points accumulation over participating in diverse race formats. These issues can affect competitive balance and team strategies throughout the season.

References

[1] - https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/mens-and-womens-professional-road-cycling-58-teams-have-submitted-essential/19Tq7J7QdP0Jt57d90dvTQ
[2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCI_race_classifications
[3] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2022_UCI_ProTeams_and_Continental_teams
[4] - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/how-much-do-pro-cyclists-earn-worldtour-average-is-e500000/
[5] - https://en.brujulabike.com/minumum-wages-world-tour-cyclists-to-be-raised/
[6] - https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/2KDvSUytt1EclJZWF7G0xr/4fc2ee2821208294dbddca7961bd3c4e/uci-worldtour---specifications-for-teams.pdf
[7] - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-culture/the-outer-line-uci-expands-worldtour-teams-sizes-for-2021-and-2022/
[8] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_monument
[9] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Tour_(cycling)
[10] - https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-major-races-in-professional-cycling
[11] - https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/the-number-of-teams-participating-in-the-mens-grand-tours-increased-to-23-by/1jF0eFAMAXIr98KOHYIe62
[12] - https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/the-uci-publishes-the-2025-uci-womens-worldtour-and-uci-worldtour-calendars/7dOF2UuB896JPtknbTZe0r
[13] - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/worldtour-lite-participation-not-mandatory-for-uci-worldteams-at-10-new-worldtour-events/
[14] - https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/how-does-the-uci-worldtour-points-system-work/
[15] - https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/the-uci-bans-repeated-inhalation-of-carbon-monoxide-and-introduces-measures/vvSYoDzCDZBPjA1dXNoWq
[16] - https://www.sportresolutions.com/news/uci-bans-repeated-carbon-monoxide-inhalation-and-introduces-new-participation-rules-for-top-teams
[17] - https://lanternerouge.com/2022/12/24/the-new-world-tour-points-and-relegation-system-explained/
[18] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCI_men's_road_racing_world_ranking
[19] - https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/uci-points-relegation
[20] - https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/five-ways-the-uci-points-system-will-change-how-the-tour-de-france-is-raced/
[21] - https://inrng.com/2023/01/uci-points-rankings-2023/
[22] - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/2024-season-in-review-part-1-breaking-down-the-uci-points-team-rankings/
[23] - https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/uci-declaration-concerning-the-awarding-of-uci-worldtour-licenses-for-the/7kQDhy5mhmnopzsXL4WAQH
[24] - https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/uci-rankings-promotions-and-relegations
[25] - https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/news/uci-adjusts-points-system-for-worldtour-teams-for-2023/
[26] - https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/article/israel-premier-tech-miss-selection-for-la-vuelta/ru8b8yilk
[27] - https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-overhauls-ranking-points-system-gives-israel-premier-tech-a-reprieve/
[28] - https://inrng.com/2024/09/worldtour-promotion-relegation-update/
[29] - https://inrng.com/2024/04/uci-world-tour-standings/
[30] - https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/we-proved-that-we-were-good-enough-to-be-there-proteams-voice-growing-frustration-over-uci-wildcard-allocations
[31] - https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/verbruggen-criticizes-ucis-approach-to-worldtour-reform/
[32] - https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/o-gran-camino-director-crticizes-the-current-uci-points-system-its-wrong-absurd-indefensible-and-outrageously-disproportionate