UCI President David LaPartient reiterated his opposition to the closed franchise system that is common in North American sports, although he said he would accept some adjustments to the point system that determines promotion and relegation in the men's World Tour.

However, a World Tour team manager told Cycling News that teams have not been informed of any plans to change the points system and expect the 2023-2025 points system to be the same as it has been for the past three years.

Last week, La Partiente claimed that the 2023-2025 World Tour would be limited to 18 teams.

Lot Soudal and Israel Premier Tech are currently facing relegation, but some teams may launch legal action against UCI rules, believing the COVID-19 epidemic is "force majeure" that has disrupted the points competition for the past three seasons. Sylvan Adams, team owner of Israel Premier Tech, has been particularly outspoken. [If they lose sponsors and millions of dollars, someone has to make it up to them. If they can show that they are not applying the rules consistently, I think they have a very good case," Adams recently told Cycling News and VeloNews in a long interview.

La Partiento is confident that the men's WorldTour relegation system can withstand any legal challenge, but when faced with questions from the media at the UCI Road World Championships in Australia, he appeared to open the door to changing the points system.

"We might be able to adjust it if necessary," Lapartiento suggested.

"I think it will be discussed, but it won't be a complete revolution of the system, because we need to maintain a certain balance. But it is true that there will be debate about whether the gap between the World Tour and the Class 1 and Pro Series races is sufficient.

"Everyone is calling for changes in the system, but no one has sent suggestions to the UCI," lamented Lapartiento.

"That's why we are working on this and hope to announce something by the end of the year or early next year.

LaPartiento made it clear that a closed franchise system is a red line for major race organizers.

"Some officials wanted a closed system like the NBA, but that is not in the DNA of our sport," Lapartiento argued.

"It was also clearly a red line, and to avoid a war with the organizers, a compromise between the parties involved was to adopt a three-year ranking system, leaving only the top 18 teams. [In soccer, if you finish last in the Premier League or Division 1, you are relegated. But this is part of sport and we must accept the consequences of sport.