2023 marks the final year of the UCI’s first ‘licensing cycle’ for the Women’s WorldTour (WWT), which progressed from an initial eight teams in 2020 to nine in 2021 and 14 in 2022, as the carrot of the inaugural Tour de France Femmes proved irresistible. For 2023, 15 licences have been awarded. With three teams vying for the final 15th licence, the UCI said that “for the first time since the creation of the division, the teams were evaluated on the basis of the sporting criterion,” meaning that the final spot came down to the team’s position on the UCI Women’s WorldTour ranking.
As the highest-ranked Continental squad, and after meeting other necessary requirements, Fenix-Deceuninck were awarded the final licence. WWT licences are also contingent on teams proving their commitment to meeting certain ethical, financial, administrative, organisational and sporting standards, including minimum salaries and benefits such as maternity leave.
Team SD Worx Netherlands
Established 2010 2022 WWT wins 11 2022 WWT ranking 1
Manager Danny Stam Bike Specialized
Women’s WorldTour team for a reason, SD Worx are stacked with talent. For the new season they’re even stronger, with the addition of Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes from Team DSM. Aged 23, she’s amassed nearly 60 pro wins already. The move raised eyebrows around how her ambitions might clash with that of fast-finishing Lotte Kopecky, winner of the Tour of Flanders in 2022. Kopecky,
