A solution against the dominant superteams has been proposed - by the agent of Tadej Pogacar

It’s a trend that has worried many inside the peloton: the biggest outfits keep getting stronger, while smaller teams increasingly struggle to keep pace — and to keep sponsors. UAE Team Emirates‑XRG collected 95 wins in 2025, yet it’s the agent of Tadej Pogačar who is now sounding the alarm. Alex Carera not only raises the issue, he also offers a concrete way forward to narrow the gap and make the sport more attractive for backers.

The Italian sees the gulf between the WorldTour’s super‑teams and the other, struggling teams widening, with the consequences already visible all over the place. "It's time to act, and fast," Carera states on Instagram. "Some sponsors are expected to leave in 2025, for whatever reason. What should we do? There isn’t a single, simple fix."

Arkéa‑B&B Hotels have pulled out of the sport after many years in the peloton; Intermarché‑Wanty were forced to merge with Lotto; and at ProTeam level, Wagner Bazin WB surrendered its professional license after sponsors were unhappy with the results. More and more second‑tier squads, are struggling just to keep their heads above water.

Carera calls the situation a shame because these teams form the base of professional cycling. He proposes a structural tweak: "op teams should race the top events, but not the smaller ones. We need a special calendar for this category to guarantee visibility for sponsors, and we should set a maximum number of 1.1 and 2.1 races that WorldTour teams can enter."

In his view, that would hand smaller teams more opportunities to perform and keep sponsors satisfied. "This would spread victories more evenly, create suspense and make the UCI team ranking more accurate, because each team would compete in the same number of races throughout the year. It would also create space for development squads."

In the long run, the idea should mean that the smaller teams will move closer to the top. "Successful ProTeams will become future WorldTour teams, as has already happened with Alpecin-Deceuninck, Uno-X Mobility, Arkéa-B&B Hotels, or important ProTeams like Q36.5 Pro Cycling and Tudor. Cycling is a unique sport, but it must look to the future."