La Vuelta 2022: Relegation debate is 'going to rage' – so is it fair as Covid rips through cycling?

The relegation debate is going to rage «on and on” as Covid impacts the scrap for points as teams battle to secure their WorldTour status, says Eurosport expert Dan Lloyd. The top 18 teams with the most UCI points in the three seasons between 2020-2022 will earn their WorldTour licence for the next triennium from 2023-2025. Ad Lotto Soudal and Israel-Premier Tech are the two WorldTour teams currently staring at the drop, with Movistar and BikeExchange-Jayco at serious risk of being dragged in.

That could mean the likes of Caleb Ewan and Chris Froome unable to compete in cycling’s biggest races, although the wildcard system may prevent that. Vuelta a EspañaCovid withdrawals 'could end up being disastrous' at VueltaAN HOUR AGO But the spectre of Covid is causing some to question the legitimacy of the relegation battle. BikeExchange-Jayco are suddenly sweating after star rider Simon Yates exited La Vuelta with the virus on Wednesday – a huge blow for the team given he was set for a haul of UCI points having sat fifth in the general classification.

Meanwhile, relegation rivals Movistar currently have Enric Mas on the podium after 10 stages. In a tweet that has since been deleted, Ineos star Tao Geoghegan Hart slammed the rules given the current climate and called for “solidarity between all riders and teams”. »How can have a relegation system, risking the future of decade old teams, during these unprecedented times of sickness," the 2020 Giro d’Italia champion wrote.

«Sport is not fair, granted. But this just doesn’t seem right, not now and not like this. I would like to see solidarity between all riders, of all teams.» In total, 21 riders have abandoned La Vuelta with Covid – 11.5% of the peloton.