Just when you think the off-season news cycle might slow down, it kicks into overdrive.

Twice Tour de France champion Alberto Contador’s Team Saxo-Tinkoff was surprisingly granted an automatic spot for the top pro road cycling races of the 2013 season, at the expense of world number one Joaquim Rodriguez’s Katusha team earlier today.

It takes more than points to make it to the WorldTour.

Team Argos-Shimano's John Degenkolb won the 10th stage of the Vuelta a Espana earlier this afternoon - thereby securing his fourth stage victory in this year's race.

Germany's John Degenkolb of Team Argos-Shimano blasts to his fourth stage victory in 2012 Vuelta a Espana; Joaquim Rodriguez keeps overall Vuelta a Espana lead before tomorrow's individual time trial.

Germany's John Degenkolb underlined his status as the 2012 Vuelta a Espana's strongest sprinter earlier this afternoon with a third victory in just six days.

Stage 7 of the 2012 Vuelta a Espana was won by John Degenkolb, cementing his position as the strongest sprinter of the race; Joaquim Rodriguez maintains overall Vuelta a Espana lead ahead of Christopher Froome and Alberto Contador

John Degenkolb sprints to stage 5 victory for Team Argos-Shimano in 2012 Vuelta a Espana ahead of Team RadioShack-Nissan's Daniele Bennati and Gianni Meersman of Lotto Belisol; Team Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez keeps overall Vuelta a Espana lead.

John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) has won Stage 2 of the Vuelta a Espana. The German took a bunch sprint to win the flat, 181.4-km run from Pamplona to Viana. Allan Davis (Orica-GreenEdge) finished second, and Ben Swift (Sky) took third. Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) remains the red jersey.