Euskaltel-Euskadi Climbs UCI Rankings After Autumn Race Push
The Euskaltel-Euskadi cycling team advanced to 29th place in the International Cycling Union rankings with 2,654 points, overtaking both Bardiani and MBH following a racing push, diariovasco.com reported. The Basque squad entered the final stretch of the campaign outside the crucial top-30 threshold required for automatic Grand Tour invitations, prompting a calendar restructure that yielded decisive UCI points in Panama and Algeria. In these moments, Euskaltel-Euskadi is 29th, with 2,654 points, while the Italians have 2,619 and the Hungarians 2,586. It is thus situated with 2,823 points, MBH (29th) has 2,815, Picnic (30th) 2,790, and Bardiani 2,664 (31st). The Hungarian squad has been unable to add points in the prologue of the Tour of Serbia, and Picnic has added 20 at the Tour of Guangxi and also loses the yellow jersey held by Biesterbros to Magnier with two stages remaining.
Panama Sprints and African Victories Yield Crucial Points
The team’s tactical pivot began at a 1.2-category race in Panama, where Xabier Berasategi won a 170-kilometer stage from David to Las Lomas in a bunch sprint, with teammate Xabier Isasa taking second place, diariovasco.com reported. Hodei Muñoz was fourth, Gotzon Martín tenth, and Gari Ugarte eleventh, the only Euskaltel rider who did not score points. Meanwhile, naiz.eus reported that the squad secured 73 points in a one-day classic, 102 points in an etap race won by Iker Mintegi, and another 65 points in a Friday classic in Algiers where Danny Van der Tuuk finished second, Paul Hennequin fourth, Jonathan Lastra sixth, and Mintegi seventh.
The Battle for the Final Grand Tour Invites
With Euskaltel-Euskadi holding 2,654 points in 29th position, the standings show Bardiani trailing with 2,619 points and MBH with 2,586 points, according to naiz.eus data. The remaining autumn calendar features four events for the Basque outfit: a classic in Hong Kong, two races in the Veneto region, and the Chrono des Nations time trial. Rival teams MBH and Bardiani are also scheduled to contest the upcoming Il Lombardia and Veneto fixtures. MBH has the Giro di Lombardia remaining, as well as the Hong Kong and Veneto classics, where it will coincide with the Basque team. Bardiani will also be in both Lombardia and Veneto.
Remaining October Calendar and Qualification Timeline
The fight for top-30 survival reaches its conclusion over the final weeks of October as the UCI points window closes for wildcard selection eligibility. Euskaltel-Euskadi continues its late-season travel schedule with appearances in the Clásica Provincia de Chiriquí in Panama alongside upcoming Asian and European one-day fixtures. Euskaltel-Euskadi will compete in the Clásica Provincia de Chiriquí, another race this weekend in Panama of 2.2 category.
Keep reading
