The top three UCI ProTeams will receive automatic invitations to every men’s WorldTour race from 2026, including all three Grand Tours, after a major reform to UCI regulations was confirmed by the Association of Professional Cycling Teams (AIGCP).
Under amendments to Article 2.1.007bis of the UCI Road Regulations, the leading ProTeams from the previous season’s rankings will be guaranteed places across the full WorldTour calendar. Based on the final 2025 standings, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and Cofidis will benefit from the new rule next year.
In an official statement on 20 December, the AIGCP described the change as a “historic measure” that “guarantees the three best UCI ProTeams systematic access to the most prestigious races across the entire UCI WorldTour calendar”. The move formalises a system that had been trialled and expands automatic access from two teams to three.
Until now, the third-ranked ProTeam was treated differently. In 2025 only the top two ProTeams enjoyed automatic invitations to all WorldTour events, while the third team was limited to one-day races and had to rely on precious wildcards for stage races and Grand Tours.
From 2026, that gap disappears. Tudor and Q36.5, who missed out on WorldTour licences in the relegation and promotion battle, now gain calendar certainty.
Cofidis, relegated from the WorldTour at the end of 2025, become the clearest beneficiary. Despite dropping to ProTeam level, their top-three ProTeam ranking means they will still line up at all three Grand Tours and every WorldTour race in 2026, creating a safety net while they attempt to fight back into the top tier.
The reform extends beyond the WorldTour. The top five ProTeams in 2025 – Tudor, Q36.5, Cofidis, TotalEnergies and Caja Rural – Seguros RGA – will receive automatic invitations to all UCI ProSeries events in 2026. Any ProTeam from the host nation of a ProSeries race will also be guaranteed a place, strengthening local representation for domestic sponsors.
For race organisers, the trade-off is reduced flexibility. With 18 WorldTeams and 3 ProTeams now automatically qualified, only two wildcard spots will remain for Grand Tours and other WorldTour races. The total field is standardised at 23 teams, or 184 riders, cementing recent practice and limiting scope to bring in additional local or marketing-driven invites.
The AIGCP argues that the package will bring “welcome stability for these high-performing teams” and aligns the men’s structure more closely with the existing rules on the women’s side. For ambitious second-tier squads and recently relegated outfits, the stakes of the rankings have rarely been higher.
