Àlex Sans x Q36.5 and the battle for wildcards and UCI-points

Àlex Sans is co-leading the Q36.5 project, a growing UCI ProTeam in the international cycling scene, but also a team that does not automatically qualify to compete in the biggest races in the world. With increased competition, sponsor expectations and team ambition, Sans’s role has grown in importance. UCI points and the battle for wildcards are now paramount in pro-cycling.

With 24 years in professional cycling, Àlex Sans has held roles from cyclist to masseur, mechanic, and most recently, sports director. He has worked with teams like Kelme and Memory Card-Jack & Jones (later CSC), alongside top cyclists like Carlos Sastre and witnessed the 2008 Tour de France victory. In 2009, he became sports director at Cervélo Test Team, marking his entry into sports management.

Today, he is sports director and performance coordinator for Q36.5. He guides the team in races and manages training, preparation, physiotherapy, and race calendar planning.

The team aims to compete at the highest level and earn wildcard invitations to Grand Tours like the Giro d’Italia and La Vuelta. “To secure spots in these races, we must show that we have a competitive team capable of strong results. Invitations aren’t given out easily,” says Sans. Securing UCI points is also vital under the UCI’s promotion-relegation system.

“With these priorities, we must be tactical about which races to enter and which riders to select,” he explains. The goal is not only securing position but earning entry into bigger races and eventually the World Tour.

Professional cycling has evolved. “In the past, races were used for training. Now, every race is approached with maximum intensity,” says Sans. Nutrition, weight control, and personalized planning are key, as is specialization in biomechanics, physiotherapy, and aerodynamics. Rider calendars are planned around performance peaks.

For 2025, Q36.5 has made strategic signings, including Briton Tom Pidcock. With him, the team targets UCI points and entry into top-tier races. Recently, the UCI announced an extra wildcard per Grand Tour, confirming Q36.5’s participation in the Giro d’Italia.

“It’s proof that we must keep working hard and be patient—step by step, proving we are a competitive and reliable team,” says Sans. “We must earn it on the road. There’s no other way.”

With focused planning and a defined strategy, Sans and Q36.5 are working to solidify their place in international cycling.

This story is part of Nafent Magazine volume 14. Read the full story in our digital or paper magazine. Visit our webshop to get yours.