Team Guide 2025

There are 18 men’s pro road cycling teams that hold WorldTeam status – the top level of pro cycling - and take part in all UCI WorldTour races, including the Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España).

2025 marks the completion of a 3-year promotion/relegation cycle at the end of which the top 18 teams will cement their place on the WorldTour for the following three years.

As it stands Lotto and Isreal-Premier Tech are in strong positions to be promoted back to the top level while Arkéa-B&B Hotels and XDS Astana Team are currently in the drop zone.

Here’s a quick overview of the WorldTeams as well as some top-ranked ProTeams (second division), some notable transfers in the close season as well as their highest profile riders.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG (Licensed Country: UAE)

2024 UCI ranking: 1; Wins: 81

Home to three-time Tour de France champion and cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar who dominated his rivals in 2024 securing the prestigious Triple Crown of Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championship wins. In what appears to be a quest to ‘complete’ cycling, Pogačar looks set for another tilt at Milano-Sanremo in the spring before a probable return to the Vuelta a España in late summer either side of being favourite for a fourth Tour de France title.

Sponsors: The Emirati-owned team entered a new six-year partnership with energy investment company XRG in 2025.

Bikes: Colnago

Selected transfers in: Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty), Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers), Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Dstny)

Selected transfers out: Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana Team)

High profile riders: João Almeida, Juan Ayuso, Mikkel Bjerg, Jan Christen, Isaac del Toro, Brandon McNulty, António Morgado, Tadej Pogačar, Nils Politt, Pavel Sivakov, Marc Soler, Jay Vine, Tim Wellens, Adam Yates

Team Visma | Lease a Bike (Netherlands)

2024 UCI ranking: 2; Wins: 32

After a stellar 2023 where they won every Grand Tour including a clean sweep of the podium at the Vuelta a España, 2024 was a disappointing year which was hampered severely by injuries to their biggest stars Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert. Vingegaard especially did remarkably well to recover from a potentially career-ending fall at Itzulia Basque Country to finish runner up to Pogačar at the Tour de France. With an injury-free buildup, he should give the Slovenian more to worry about in 2025. Van Aert meanwhile will be looking to add a win at the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix to his palmarès which so far have remained elusive.

Sponsors: European software company Visma continue their partnership with bike leasing company Lease a Bike.

Bikes: Cervélo

Selected transfers in: Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny), Dan McLay (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Simon Yates (Team Jayco-AlUla), Axel Zingle (Cofidis)

Selected transfers out: Koen Bouwman (Team Jayco AlUla), Robert Gesink (retired), Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

High profile riders: Tiesj Benoot, Matteo Jorgenson, Olav Kooij, Sepp Kuss, Christophe Laporte, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Attila Valter, Wout van Aert, Dylan van Baarle, Jonas Vingegaard

Soudal Quick-Step (Belgium)

2024 UCI ranking: 3; Wins: 34

Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel is the star of the show for Soudal Quick-Step. Sadly, he looks to be out until late spring with nerve damage in his shoulder following a training ride collision with a postal van. Evenepoel’s main aim will be to make the start line for the Tour de France after a third-place finish in 2024. Newly crowned European champion Tim Merlier is there for the sprints and will no doubt add to his already impressive palmarès.

Sponsors: Soudal make adhesives whilst Quick-Step are flooring specialists.

Bikes: Specialized

Selected transfers in: Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Max Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe)

Selected transfers out: Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost), Jan Hirt (Israel-Premier Tech), Gianni Moscon (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

High profile riders: Remco Evenepoel, Yves Lampaert, Mikel Landa, Paul Magnier, Tim Merlier, Ilan Van Wilder

Lidl-Trek (United States)

2024 UCI ranking: 4; Wins: 42

Lidl-Trek had a great 2024 largely off the back of wins by Jonathan Milan, who established himself firmly at the top table of sprinters, Mattias Skjelmose who emerged as a genuine Grand Tour podium contender, and the ever-reliable Mads Pedersen who mopped up several wins including Gent-Wevelgem and placed third at Paris-Roubaix. Meanwhile, young Belgian Thibau Nys took nine victories himself and looks set for great things over the next few years.

Sponsors: German supermarket chain Lidl continue their partnership with bike manufacturer Trek.

Bikes: Trek

Selected transfers in: Lennard Kämna (BORA-hansgrohe), Søren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Selected transfers out: Dario Cataldo (retired), Fabio Felline (retired), Natnael Tesfatsion (Movistar Team)

High profile riders: Giulio Ciccone, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jonathan Milan, Thibau Nys, Mads Pedersen, Albert Philipsen, Quinn Simmons, Mattias Skjelmose, Toms Skujiņš, Jasper Stuyven

Red Bull-BORA–hansgrohe (Germany)

2024 UCI Ranking: 5; Wins: 24

Primož Roglic landed his fourth Vuelta a España title in what was a decent if not spectacular 2024 for the German team. They look to have strengthened their roster for this season with several young riders – Finn Fisher-Black, Oier Lazkano, Giulio Pellizzari, Laurence Pithie and Maxim Van Gils – who are all capable of winning some big races.

Sponsors: Austrian energy drinks giant Red Bull took a controlling share of the team at the start of 2024 whilst German cooker maker Bora and bathroom fittings manufacturer Hansgrohe continue as co-sponsors.

Bikes: Specialized

Selected transfers in: Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates), Oier Lazkano (Movistar Team), Gianni Moscon (Soudal Quick-Step), Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ), Jan Tratnik (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dtsny)

Selected transfers out: Emanuel Buchmann (Cofidis), Sergio Higuita (XDS Astana Team), Bob Jungels (INEOS Grenadiers), Lennard Kämna (Lidl-Trek), Max Schachmann (Soudal Quick-Step)

High profile riders: Jai Hindley, Florian Lipowitz, Dani Martínez, Primož Roglič, Matteo Sobrero, Aleksandr Vlasov, Sam Welsford

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team (France)

2024 UCI ranking: 6; Wins: 30

The French team took a massive step forward in 2024 and surpassed their previous year’s win total before the end of April. They’ve lost a couple of big hitters in the close season however, with Vuelta a España runner-up Ben O’Connor and Giro d’Italia stage winner Valentin Paret-Peintre both moving on.

Sponsors: No change for 2025 with sporting goods retailers Decathlon and financial investors AG2R La Mondiale continuing as joint funders.

Bikes: Van Rysel

Selected transfers in: Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost), Callum Scotson (Team Jayco-AlUla), Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale U19 Team), Johannes Staune-Mittet (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

Selected transfers out: Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), Edvald Boasson Hagen (retired), Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco-AlUla), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Larry Warbasse (Tudor Pro Cycling)

High profile riders: Bruno Armirail, Sam Bennett, Benoît Cosnefroy, Felix Gall, Dorian Godon, Paul Lapeira, Victor Lafay, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Andrea Vendrame

INEOS Grenadiers (UK)

2024 UCI Ranking: 7; Wins: 14

Things seem to be going from bad to worse for the UK-based team with only 14 wins on the road in 2024. There’s even talk of Ineos pulling out of cycling, presumably so Jim Radcliffe can concentrate on ruining other sports teams. The loss of Tom Pidcock is a blow, if not necessarily for team harmony but definitely for the potential of big race wins which now look to be on the shoulders of Filippo Ganna, Carlos Rodriguez, Josh Tarling and maybe Egan Bernal who continues his recovery after a near fatal crash three years ago.

Sponsors: Ineos are a chemicals company with an expansive sporting portfolio which includes a controlling share of Manchester United FC. The team is named after the Ineos Grenadier, a 4x4 vehicle manufactured by their automative division, which in turn was named after a London pub that Radcliffe bought.

Bikes: Pinarello

Selected transfers in: Caleb Ewan (Team Jayco AlUla), Lucas Hamilton (Team Jayco AlUla), Bob Jungels (BORA-hansgrohe), Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ)

Selected transfers out: Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step), Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Luke Rowe (retired)

High profile riders: Thymen Arensman, Egan Bernal, Filippo Ganna, Carlos Rodríguez, Magnus Sheffield, Josh Tarling, Geraint Thomas

Alpecin-Deceuninck (Belgium)

2024 UCI ranking: 8; Wins: 26

A very solid 2024 for the Belgian team with Mathieu van der Poel adding his fifth and sixth Monument win in Flanders and Roubaix, Jasper Philipsen landing Milano-Sanremo and three stages of the Tour de France and Kaden Groves taking three stages of the Vuelta a España as well as the green points jersey.

Sponsors: Alpecin provide ‘German engineering for your hair’ or in other words, shampoos whilst Deceuninck make doors and windows.

Bikes: Canyon

Selected transfers in: Johan Price-Pejtersen (Bahrain-Victorious)

Selected transfers out: Nicola Conci (XDS Astana Team), Søren Kragh Andersen (Lidl-Trek), Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), Ramon Sinkeldam (retired)

High profile riders: Kaden Groves, Quinten Hermans, Jasper Philipsen, Mathieu van der Poel

Lotto (Belgium)

2024 UCI ranking: 9; Wins: 25

Lotto are looking to get promoted back to WorldTour status and, despite the loss of big names Victor Campenaerts and Maxim Van Gills, are in a decent position to do so with a streamlined roster and race programme. Arnaud De Lie and Lennart Van Eetvelt are the standout riders who should pick up wins throughout the season.

Sponsors: The Belgian lottery have been sponsors for the last 40 years.

Bikes: Orbea

Selected transfers in: Josh Giddings (Lotto Dstny Development Team), Reuben Thompson (Groupama-FDJ)

Selected transfers out: Victor Campenaerts (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Thomas De Gendt (retired), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Soudal Quick-Step), Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility), Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

High profile riders: Arnaud De Lie, Milan Menten, Alec Segaert, Lennart Van Eetvelt, Brent Van Moer

Groupama–FDJ (France)

2024 UCI ranking: 10; Wins: 15

Lost two excellent young riders in Lenny Martinez and Laurence Pithie in the close season and have been overtaken as the top French team by Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. On the face of it, victories may be hard to come by though Romain Grégoire is an exciting talent who should threaten in one-day races.

Sponsors: The French national lottery, Français des Jeux (FDJ) own a majority stake and co-sponsor with insurance firm Groupama.

Bikes: Wilier Triestina

Selected transfers in: Rémi Cavagna (Movistar Team), Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis)

Selected transfers out: Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Reuben Thompson (Lotto), Sam Watson (INEOS Grenadiers)

High profile riders: David Gaudu, Romain Grégoire, Stefan Küng, Valentin Madouas

Israel-Premier Tech (Israel)

2024 UCI ranking: 11; Wins 29

Looking to get promoted back to the UCI World Tour next season and are in a good position to do so. Stars include Welshman Stephen Williams who won La Flèche Wallone as well as the Tour Down Under and the Tour of Britain in 2024, and Derek Gee who, after his breakthrough performance at the Giro d’Italia two seasons ago, finished on the podium of the Critérium du Dauphiné and should be rewarded with a Grand Tour leadership role in 2025.

Sponsors: Started off as the Israel Cycling Academy ten years ago and now joined by Canadian Tech company Premier Tech as joint title sponsors.

Bikes: Factor

Selected transfers in: Jan Hirt (Soudal Quick-Step), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team)

Selected transfers out: Dylan Teuns (Cofidis), Mads Würst Schmidt (PAS Racing)

High profile riders: Pascal Ackermann, George Bennett, Joe Blackmore, Marco Frigo, Chris Froome, Derek Gee, Krists Neilands, Matthew Riccitello, Nick Schultz, Corbin Strong, Stephen Williams, Michael Woods

EF Education-EasyPost (United States)

2024 UCI ranking: 12; Wins 24

A stage win and King of the Mountains jersey for Richard Carapaz at the Tour de France was the highlight of 2024 and the Ecuadorian, along with Ben Healy and Neilson Powless, will be their best hopes for success this season. The loss of Alberto Bettiol is a blow, but the acquisition of Kasper Asgreen could be a good swap if he finds his form of old.

Sponsors: International education company EF Education and shipping logistics company EasyPost.

Bikes: Cannondale

Selected transfers in: Vincenzo Albanese (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step), Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team)

Selected transfers out: Andrey Amador (retired), Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana Team), Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Simon Carr (Cofidis), Rigoberto Urán (retired)

High profile riders: Richard Carapaz, Rui Costa, Hugh Carthy, Esteban Chaves, Ben Healy, Neilson Powless, Georg Steinhauser, Marijn van den Berg

Movistar Team (Spain)

2024 UCI ranking: 13; Wins: 8

Struggled for wins in 2024 and have lost a couple of their best performers in Oier Lazkano and Alex Aranburu. New arrival Pablo Castrillo will be one to watch after his two stage wins at the Vuelta a España while Enric Mas will once again carry Grand Tour hopes.

Sponsors: Mobile phone company Movistar have sponsored this long-standing Spanish team since 2011.

Bikes: Canyon

Selected transfers in: Orluis Aular (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Pablo Castrillo (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Natnael Tesfatsion (Lidl-Trek)

Selected transfers out: Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ), Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ), Oier Lazkano (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Iván Sosa (Equipo Kern Pharma)

High profile riders: Davide Formolo, Iván García Cortina, Fernando Gaviria, Ruben Guerreiro, Enric Mas, Nairo Quintana, Javier Romo, Einer Rubio, Pelayo Sánchez

Team Jayco AlUla (Australia)

2024 UCI ranking: 14: Wins: 25

The Australian outfit have switched their Grand Tour hopes from the shoulders of Simon Yates to Ben O’Connor, who led the field for a long way in last year’s Vuelta a España. Though Caleb Ewan has moved on following a breakdown in relationships, Dylan Groenewegen is there for the sprints and the likes of Michael Matthews, Luke Plapp and Mauro Schmid should pick up plenty of good results in one-day and stage races.

Sponsors: Saudi Arabia travel partner AlUla and US trailer firm Jayco co-sponsor.

Bikes: Giant

Selected transfers in: Koen Bouwman (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Jasha Sütterlin (Bahrain-Victorious)

Selected transfers out: Lawson Craddock (retired), Caleb Ewan (INEOS Grenadiers), Lucas Hamilton (INEOS Grenadiers), Callum Scotson (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Simon Yates (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

High profile riders: Eddie Dunbar, Luke Durbridge, Dylan Groenewegen, Chris Harper, Michael Matthews, Luke Plapp, Mauro Schmid, Filippo Zana

Intermarché-Wanty (Belgium)

2024 UCI ranking: 15; Wins: 13

No doubting the headline act on this team – Eritrean superstar Biniam Girmay will be looking to follow up on his three stage wins and green jersey at last year’s Tour de France.

Sponsors: French supermarket chain Intermarché and Belgian engineering firm Wanty.

Bikes: Cube

Selected transfers in: Alexander Kamp (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Jonas Rutsch (EF Education-EasyPost)

Selected transfers out: Lilian Calmejane (retired), Rune Herregodts (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Rein Taaramäe (Kinan Racing Team), Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana Team)

High profile riders: Biniam Girmay, Louis Meintjes, Hugo Page, Laurenz Rex, Lorenzo Rota, Rein Taaramäe, Gerben Thijssen, Taco van der Hoorn, Georg Zimmermann

Team Picnic PostNL (Netherlands)

2024 UCI ranking: 16; Wins: 22

There’ll be hopes that last season’s marquee signing Fabio Jakobsen gets back to something like his top form, though the Dutch teams best hopes for success appear to be with some exciting young talent – sprinters Tobias Lund Andresen and Pavel Bittner as well as British climbers Oscar Onley and Max Poole.

Sponsors: Dutch postal company PostNL are joined in 2025 by supermarket delivery app Picnic.

Bikes: Lapierre

Selected transfers in: None

Selected transfers out: Patrick Bevin (retired), Emils Liepiņš (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)

High profile riders: Tobias Lund Andresen, Romain Bardet, Pavel Bittner, Fabio Jakobsen, Oscar Onley, Max Poole

Bahrain-Victorious (Bahrain)

2024 UCI ranking: 17; Wins 13

A pretty lean 2024 compared to the previous few years but there are reasons for optimism with Antonio Tiberi and Santiago Buitrago both emerging as genuine Grand Tour podium contenders and new recruit Lenny Martinez adding firepower for the big races.

Sponsors: State owned by the government of Bahrain.

Bikes: Merida

Selected transfers in: Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)

Selected transfers out: Wout Poels (XDS Astana Team), Jasha Sütterlin (Team Jayco AlUla)

High profile riders: Phil Bauhaus, Pello Bilbao, Santiago Buitrago, Damiano Caruso, Jack Haig, Matej Mohorič, Wout Poels, Antonio Tiberi, Fred Wright

Uno-X Mobility (Norway)

2024 UCI ranking: 18; Wins 26

Norwegian ProTeam that are in with a shout of promotion up to WorldTour level in 2026 and with plenty of weapons capable of race wins.

Sponsors: Uno-X is a chain of self-service fuelling and charging stations in Scandinavia.

Bikes: Ridley

Selected transfers in: Andreas Kron (Lotto Dstny)

Selected transfers out: Odd Christian Eiking (Unibet Tietema Rockets)

High profile riders: Jonas Abrahamsen, Magnus Cort, Tobias Johannessen, Alexander Kristoff, Andreas Leknessund, Rasmus Tiller, Søren Wærenskjold

Arkéa-B&B Hotels (France)

2024 UCI Ranking: 19; Wins: 9

Kévin Vauquelin produced the standout performance of 2024 with an impressive Tour de France stage win but the team are vulnerable to a drop back down to ProTeam status at the end of the year at which point the young Frenchman is likely to move on.

Sponsors: Bank insurance group Arkéa continue with joint title sponsors B&B Hotels.

Bikes: Bianchi

Selected transfers in: None

Selected transfers out: Vincenzo Albanese (EF Education-EasyPost), Clément Champoussin (XDS Astana Team), Dan McLay (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

High profile riders: Arnaud Démare, Luca Mozzato, Kévin Vauquelin

Cofidis (France)

2024 UCI ranking: 20; Wins: 5

A poor 2024 has left Cofidis vulnerable to a drop down to ProTeam status next year but the French team have recruited pretty well in the close season with riders who have potential to deliver a big result or two.

Sponsors: Money-lending company Cofidis have been ever-present sponsors for over 20 years.

Bikes: Look

Selected transfers in: Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team), Emanuel Buchmann (BORA-hansgrohe), Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost), Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny), Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech)

Selected transfers out: Simon Geschke (retired), Guillaume Martin (Groupama-FDJ), Axel Zingle (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

High profile riders: Bryan Coquard, Milan Fretin, Jesús Herrada, Ion Izagirre, Anthony Perez, Benjamin Thomas

XDS Astana Team (Kazakhstan)

2024 UCI ranking: 21; Wins: 12

No doubting the standout win in 2024 with Mark Cavendish landing a record 35th Tour de France stage. With relegation looming, a host of points-scoring riders have been drafted in for 2025.

Sponsors: The state-owned Kazakh team have partnered with Chinese bike manufacturer XDS for 2025.

Bikes: XDS

Selected transfers in: Clément Champoussin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Aaron Gate (Burgos-BH), Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe), Wout Poel (Bahrain-Victorious), Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Wanty), Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates)

Selected transfers out: Samuele Battistella (EF Education-EasyPost), Mark Cavendish (retired), Alexey Lutsenko (Israel-Premier Tech)

High profile riders: Davide Ballerini, Alberto Bettiol, Cees Bol, Lorenzo Fortunato, Henok Mululbrhan, Ide Schelling, Harold Tejada

Team Guide 2025

El Patrón Cycling