In this global cycling where two teams, UAE (30,170) and Jumbo (29,177), almost double the points of the third, Soudal (18,529), and triple what Movistar has obtained this season (twelfth with 10,852), the Euskaltel-Euskadi has risen from the 63rd place obtained in 2022 (with 528 points) to 35th place (1,506). I needed that rise in the world ranking. According to the new regulations of the International Cycling Union (UCI), only the squads classified in the top 50 may be invited to the grand rounds. Euskaltel thus overcomes the first cut to return to the Vuelta a España in 2024.
???? We end a year in which we have met the objectives set at the beginning of the season.
????️ @AzanzaJorge: “The data reflects our good season. The main idea of the year was to start strong and we managed to get into a good dynamic.
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— Euskaltel Euskadi Team (@euskaltelteam) October 17, 2023
Despite long-term injuries such as those of Mikel Bizkarra and Mikel Iturria that weakened the team, the director of the Basque team, Jorge Azanza, considers that 2023 has been “a good season.” «It has served – he defends – for the consolidation of young people, to know that we have riders of the future like Berasategi, Enekoitz, Isasa and Abetxuko, who are adapting very well to professionalism. With the signings that are coming, 2024 is presented as an exciting year to continue growing in sports and opt for more successes.
Achieving victories on the WorldTour calendar is almost impossible for riders on ProTeam teams (second division) like Euskaltel. And even more so when the tendency is for a small group of stars (Pogacar, Vingegaard, Roglic, Van Aert, Van der Poel, Evenepoel and Philipsen) to keep the majority of the loot. The orange formation has achieved its two victories in 2023 in the Vuelta a Portugal (Pro Series). Veteran Luis Ángel Maté won the sixth stage, in Guarda. And Txomin Juaristi won the final time trial and took the final podium as second place after the Swiss Colin Stussi. Added to these two notches are 13 podium places and 70 places in the top ten. Hence, Euskaltel-Euskadi has tripled the points harvest compared to 2022.
He had no choice. The UCI will further narrow the selection criteria for the grand tours. In 2025, only those classified among the 40 best teams in the world may be invited. And from 2026, the limit will be reduced to 30. The fight for points will be even fiercer for the second division teams. The Spanish platoon has four: Caja Rural now occupies 28th place with 2,055. Kern Pharma is thirty-first, with 1,700. Two places further back is Burgos BH, with 1,539, which precedes Euskaltel (35th, with 1,506). In principle, only two of the four will have a place in the Vuelta a España 2024.
Burgos has always been selected while the presence of the other three is until now rotating (in 2023 neither Kern Pharma nor Euskaltel have participated). The Vuelta has to adhere to UCI regulations, which require candidates to be classified among the 50 best teams on the international calendar. All four meet that requirement. The decision usually comes between the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
2023-10-17 15:35:55
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