Team faces closure due to UCI rules

The Bardiani CSF 7 Saber cycling team, ranked 31st in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) team ranking, may be forced to discontinue operations because it cannot meet the UCI's requirement to participate in the Tour of Italy, a key event for Grand Tour eligibility. This would be the second time since 1982 that the Italian team would miss an edition of the race, with the previous absence in 2009 linked to a failed drug test involving one of its riders.

Family-owned team may shut down in two years

Bruno Reverberi, whose family has run the team for nearly 40 years, said in the Triciclo podcast that the team could shut down within two years. He explained that the team had spent 5 million euros without the opportunity to compete, suggesting a lack of viable future in professional cycling. This financial burden, without competitive opportunities, has left the team in a difficult position.

Team lacks long-term rider contracts and sponsor support

Reverberi mentioned that the team had hired four or five new riders, but only signed them for one year, indicating a lack of long-term planning. He also said the team had not approached sponsors for funding, which further limits its ability to secure financial stability or competitive success in the sport.

Criticism of UCI's points system and governance

Reverberi criticized the UCI points system, explaining that the team’s racing strategy had changed from taking breakaways to keeping riders in the peloton to collect points for tenth place. He described the UCI as incompetent, claiming that its policies had damaged the sport of cycling and that the sport was in decline without anyone noticing.