Pidcock and Q36.5 receive another wildcard on top of their Giro spot, last year's stunt team 'extremely disappointed' by Vuelta selection
Cycling
The Vuelta a España has given Caja Rural, Burgos-Burpellet-BH, and Q36.5 Pro Cycling a wildcard for the 2025 edition. The third and final grand tour of the year also offers mandatory invitations to the two best ProTeams, Israel-Premier Tech and Lotto.
This makes the Vuelta the third and final grand tour to have its wildcards finalized. Earlier this week, the Giro chose Q36.5, along with Team Polti, Bardiani, and Tudor. Lotto gave up its starting spot in the Tour of Italy, which opened up an extra spot for the organization. Israel-Premier Tech will be using its starting right. Lotto and Israel-Premier Tech will be at the Tour de France, along with Tudor, Uno-X Mobility, and TotalEnergies.
On March 31, the UCI decided to award an extra wildcard to the three grand tours in 2025, meaning that the peloton will consist of 184 riders this year instead of 176. An exception, because in the new license period 2026-2028, the cycling association already stated the usual two wildcards will be given, in addition to the mandatory starting places for the two best ProTeams from the Team Ranking.
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Caja Rural and Burgos instead of Equipo Kern Pharma
The choice of Caja Rural and Burgos is not totally unexpected but surprising. Caja Rural has been there regularly in recent years, but Burgos was overlooked last year in favor of Equipo Kern Pharma. That team surprised everyone in the Vuelta a España by winning two stages with Pablo Castrillo and another with Urko Berrade. However, past results offer no guarantee for the future of cycling either. Equipo Kern Pharma will not be participating.
This is undoubtedly due to Castrillo's departure for Movistar, although Diego Uriarte surprisingly won another stage in the Ruta del Sol this year. Caja Rural, on the other hand, was already successful with Iúri Leitão in the Trofeo Palma. Burgos won a stage with Sergio Geovani Chumil in O Gran Camiño. Equipo Kern Pharma responded briefly: "We are extremely disappointed that we will not return to the Vuelta after what happened in 2024. Thank you for all your support and encouraging messages."
Q36.5 very happy with Vuelta wildcard
Q36.5 has won a wildcard, with Tom Pidcock as its star rider. After several years of riding the Tour de France with INEOS Grenadiers, the Brit can now look forward to the double Giro-Vuelta. The team has announced the second wildcard for 2025 through the official channels of Q36.5. Sports director Doug Ryder was nearly speechless. "I’m absolutely thrilled about this invitation. La Vuelta has been a key goal for us this year. With a strong group of Spanish riders and staff, the energy within our team is electric."
"Although this will be our first time competing in La Vuelta as a team, 15 of our 25 riders have experience in the race, with some securing stage podiums, victories, and even wearing the iconic red leader’s jersey. It is a tough undulating and mountainous race which suits us," says Ryder. Pidcock says he has big ambitions for the second Vuelta of his career. "It’s very exciting that we’ve received an invitation to ride La Vuelta! I haven’t checked all the stages yet, but I do know there is one stage finish in Andorra. That’s where I live, so it’s definitely something to look forward to. This year’s edition also features the iconic climbs of Angliru and Bola del Mundo. I did my first Grand Tour four years ago in Spain and have great memories of it."
Uno-X Mobility and Tudor did not receive a wild card, but it is unclear whether they wanted to apply for one in the first place.
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Latest Comments
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025