On March 26th, the Wednesday after Sanremo, theUCI will let us know whether it will be possible to increase the quota of wild cards up to three for the Grand Tours. At the moment, the system provides for two invitations: the Giro d'Italia is already ahead of the Tour and the Vuelta because Lotto has once again announced that it will not be playing, freeing up the third invitationIf the third wild card also arrives, the Giro could make 4 invitations, bringing the two Italian teams entitled by points (Team Polti-VisitMalta e VF Group-Bardiani), more Tudor Pro Cycling e Q36.5 Cycling Team. The Tour could instead expand its roster with the team of Julian Alaphilippe which would be out at the momentWe don't want to sound like the usual snide ones, but we wonder if the matter would drag on so long if the request came only from the Giro d'Italia.
The two Italians deserve to be there by right. In addition to the need to protect the national movement, at Tirreno they demonstrated dedication and substance (Tarozzi, who won the green jersey, was the opening act), even if the current management of RCS Sports has shown that the Italian flag and the accounts to be balanced are not always the same. Tudor has invested in the Giro with a rather incisive campaign. Q36.5 would lead to the start pidcock, a nice name that would also make an excellent appeal to the Anglo-Saxon world. Whichever of the four teams is left out would bring with it unpleasant consequences..
Group (almost) in pieces
These days the Tirreno-Adriatico, going around the buses and asking simple questions, we recorded a sample of different and controversial responsesSome say all the teams are in favor, with the exception of one Belgian professional. Others claim the opposition comes from some WorldTour teams. Then there's the French teams' faction, which opposes any decisions that violate the written rules. Finally, there are those who point to Adam Hansen and the CPA (the International Riders' Association), which allegedly opposed the decision on safety grounds.
For the first three hypotheses, the questions asked were in breach of confidentiality. As regards the CPA, however, Adam hansen – to whom the question was posed by Cristian Salvato – would have responded with a hearty laugh, having supported the possibility of increasing the number of wild cards to three as a category.
Safety or inadequacy?
The topic is delicate. The number of 176 athletes at the start, established with the 2018 technical reform, is reached with 22 teams of 8 riders eachThis is a precautionary measure linked to safety and the organizers' ability to ensure it. In 2017, 22 teams of nine riders each participated in the Giro d'Italia, with 198 participants. Allowing a third wild card would bring the starting field to 184, however less than the 2017 figure.
We are thinking about a change in the regulation or a rewriting of the law To meet cycling's current needs? Would this be a way to circumvent the points-based participation rules or make the rules less stringent? And above all, what are the thinking within the UCI, which finds itself amidst the demands of the major organizers and the need to keep a close eye on safety during the race?
Whatever the reason for the change, if it happens, what is technically unsustainable and blatantly goes against the needs of athletes in extreme planning cycling is that all this will be announced five weeks before the Giro d'Italia, which, coming first, as always suffers from the indecision of the UCI. The others, the French who organize the Tour and also the Vuelta, can in fact afford to to stand by and make a good face at any kind of game.
Biennial wild cards
Wild cards are a great tool to invite the little ones to the big table, but they are so extemporaneous and occasional that they do not allow for far-sighted investmentsHow do you propose to a sponsor to invest in you, if five weeks before the Giro d'Italia Are you still unsure if you'll take part? Wild cards should be at least biennial and not a tool for giving away gifts from the organizers to the managers of the momentPerhaps in this way, even those starting with more limited resources can plan a solid growth path.
The gap between the teams that strive and invest to achieve excellence and those who govern them at all levels is evident. It seems like a small thing, in comparison, that the route and the teams that will participate are still unknown Giro Next GenIf a major team like Tudor Pro Cycling still doesn't know whether it will participate in the Giro d'Italia, what do you expect any continental team to complain about the total lack of information about the race that concerns them?
