UCI announces 2016 elite women's teams

Image 1 of 6

The UCI published the names and ranking order of the first 40 elite women’s teams registered with the sport governing body for the 2016 season. Wiggle High5 took the number one rank, which is based on the individual UCI points of the top four best riders for each team.

“On the basis of this ranking, the best teams will automatically be invited to participate in the major events on the calendar,” the statement from the UCI read. The team ranking also takes into account the UCI points earned from the team time trial at the World Championships in Richmond, Virginia, last September.

The UCI announced the inaugural Women’s WorldTour last fall that will include 17 events. The series includes a mix of one-day races and stage races. The Women’s WorldTour will replace the World Cup.

According to the UCI’s statement, organisers of events on the Women’s WorldTour are obliged to send invitations to the top 20 UCI women’s teams for one-day races and the top 10 UCI women’s teams for stage races.

In addition, organisers of 1.1- and 2.1-level events are obliged to send invitations to the top 10 2016 UCI women’s teams and the top five nations of the 2015 UCI nation’s ranking, which are the Netherlands, USA, Italy, Australia and Great Britain.

The top 10 UCI women’s teams, according to the UCI’s statement, are Wiggle High5, Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team, Boels Dolmans, Canyon//SRAM, Cervelo Bigla, Orica-AIS, Hitec Products, Cylance Pro Cycling, Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank and Liv Plantur.

2016 UCI elite women's teams