Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme has expressed his support to the idea of reducing teams in the grand tours to eight riders. "It is safer and it will provide a more open race", he claims in an email interview with Velonews.

All important representatives from the cycling world gather today in Barcelona to discuss the announced reforms of the WorldTour. The race organizers rejected the proposals made by that the UCI made in September and have asked for smaller teams in grand tours and major races.

Prudhomme supports the idea of having fewer riders per team at the Tour de France. "Concerning the question of reducing the number of riders per team, above all, we want to preserve the security. It’s a fundamental question that should be considered a priority before everything else. Before thinking about the number of teams in a race, we want to consider the question of security before anything else.

"We also hope, as a consequence, that this will allow races to open up, and be less blocked, with a peloton that is less controlled and closed down by the big teams. It’s obvious that some teams have the means to control the race and dictate the action by the quality of its riders. To eliminate one rider would liberate some teams and open up the race.

"It could also help out smaller races, which are often left out because the bigger races absorb all the best riders. To start with one less rider in the major races would allow the top teams to have more complete line-ups in the smaller races, which right now is difficult to do when teams have to bring 18 top riders to two races that might coincide. Logically, if there is one less rider at the top races, that would mean one more rider for the smaller races, and as a result, a better quality of teams across all levels of races."