Key changes are set to take place in the Women’s WorldTour in 2023 which will see 15 teams WorldTeams competing in the top tier of the sport. The new regulations focus on increased opportunity and development with the biggest change allowing WorldTeams to register a development team, the introduction of an official neo-pro category, team sizes, and increased minimum salary scales.
Cyclingnews has spoken with many of the sport’s top teams as they consider and implement various aspects of the new rules. Not all teams will utilise the development rules immediately, but many view the new structures as having the potential to continue the growth and development of the sport in future seasons.
The UCI published the changes as part of a series of new regulation updates (opens in new tab) on its website following the Management Committee meeting in September, and they come into effect on November 1, ahead of the new season.
Next year, the number of Women’s WorldTeams will increase to 15 with one spot available for a current Continental team to make the jump up to the highest level next season.
In order for a Continental-level team to acquire the 15th WorldTeam licence next season, it must apply and fulfil the four main requirements: financial, ethical, administrative and organisational. If all of the teams that apply meet these four requirements then the decision will come down to whichever team is the highest placed on the UCI World Ranking.
Three teams have applied for the 15th and last top-tier licence available for next year, with the highest-ranked team among those that have applied being the 12th-ranked Plantur-Pura, under the name Ciclismo Mundial. The other applicants are Ceratizit-WNT, in 15th, and AG Insurance-NXTG‘s elite team which is currently 17th and has applied under the name AG Insurance-Soudal-QuickStep, reflecting their relationship with Patrick Lefevere’s WorldTeam.
Due to their ranking, Plantur-Pura are in pole position to take the final Women’s WorldTeam spot for 2023. “We applied for it, and we have the opportunity; the standings and the points are looking good,” a representative of the team told Cyclingnews.
Valcar-Travel & Service is actually the top performer on the world ranking among those teams that don’t already have WorldTeam status, currently in ninth, but they have indicated to Cyclingnews that they would not apply to become a WorldTeam.
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