UCI WorldTeams must compete at all events that were part of the tour prior to the 2017 expansion.

However, disputes between the UCI and ASO, the organisers of the Tour de France and other classics, and eventually with the organisers of the Tours of Italy and Spain, meant that by 2008 the ProTour was devalued as a ranking method, as only one of the Monument events, and three other classics, remained under the auspices of the UCI.

As a result, the UCI World Ranking was introduced, merging performances from both the ProTour and other prestigious events.

[2] The ranking system was re-branded as the 'World Tour', whilst 'ProTeam' [3] was retained as a registration category for professional teams.

When a national squad, that is not a UCI registered team, participated in a race, its members were not eligible to receive points.