A golden opportunity for Unibet Rose Rockets? Cofidis skips upcoming Giro d'Italia

Cofidis is allowed to start at this year's Giro d'Italia but will not participate in the first Grand Tour of the season. The French team has since confirmed this to Cycling Pro Net.

Sources within the team have revealed that Cofidis will not compete in the 2026 Giro d'Italia, scheduled from May 8 to 31, starting in Bulgaria and finishing in Rome. "We have decided not to participate in this year’s Giro d'Italia. This is an official decision," they say. The withdrawal of the French squad opens up an additional wildcard for the Italian race.

What’s the situation again?

According to UCI regulations, 23 teams are allowed to take part in the upcoming edition of the Giro d'Italia. The 18 WorldTeams are guaranteed entry and are even obliged to participate in the Italian Grand Tour. Tudor Pro Cycling and Q36.5-Pinarello, as the two best ProTeams from last season, are also assured invitations.

Although Cofidis failed to avoid relegation from the WorldTour, they will still have a guaranteed wildcard in 2026. In 2025, they were, after Tudor and Q36.5, the best team not racing at the WorldTour level. The UCI awards the top three of these teams a ticket to all WorldTour events. Originally, this was for the first two teams only, but the rules were adjusted last year.

Now that Cofidis has withdrawn from the Giro d'Italia, organizer RCS Sport can invite three (instead of two) other ProTeams. Most likely, these will be Bardiani CSF 7 Saber and Polti VisitMalta, as they are the only teams with an Italian UCI license eligible for a wildcard.

The spot left vacant by Cofidis could be taken by TotalEnergies (which has participated in the Giro before), but Unibet Rose Rockets might now also be considered. The French team with Dutch roots is also aiming for a wildcard for the upcoming Tour de France and has no experience yet in racing one, let alone two, Grand Tours.

Other possible alternatives are the Spanish squads Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Burgos BH, and Equipo Kern Pharma, but these teams will likely focus more on the Tour de France (with the Grand Départ in Barcelona) and the Vuelta a España.

A golden opportunity for Unibet Rose Rockets? Cofidis skips upcoming Giro d'Italia

What’s the situation again?

Welke ploeg moet nu een wildcard krijgen voor de Giro d'Italia?

What’s the situation again?

Welke ploeg moet nu een wildcard krijgen voor de Giro d'Italia?