Another season passes and another team is lucky to be alive, in spite of its five stage wins at the sport's biggest race. Another team will be in the same position next season.
The proposed reduction of the number of WorldTour teams from 18 to 17, or the prompt reversal of that rule, in this case, seems to have hit a nerve with fans, sponsors, and athletes.
And while some might see the debate on who the final slot in the big leagues should be awarded to as a negative, I'm pleased the situation has been given a spotlight. It's a backroom fight that happens each season that we can only end with a meaningful discourse. The root issue in this debate is the most important governance decision cycling faces today. To say the riders, staff, sponsors, and fans deserve better than this current race to not be last is an understatement.
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The issue is not how the points system works or doesn't work. The issue is a diluted business plan that in time will ultimately fail. For big teams and small teams alike.
No system will be perfect in determining who truly is the last-ranked team. And frankly, its demoralizing and disheartening to all the teams that we're focusing on who's not the worst team in the world as opposed to what team's the "best." We should all be trying to win bike races, not finish in the middle because we were afraid to risk losing the points of seventh place.
KILLING THE UNDERDOG
- Rider prices rise as teams reach panic over WorldTour points
- UCI confirms 18 applicants for 2017 WorldTour
- AIGCP warn UCI against approving WorldTour reforms
- InCycle Video: Vaughters on Velon and growth of pro cycling
- Jonathan Vaughters: Where does big-time pro cycling in the US go from here?
- Smith: I'd be devastated if Dimension Data miss WorldTour selection
- Dimension Data set to retain WorldTour status for 2017
- Dimension Data face uncertain wait over WorldTour place
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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