'The sport remains built on fragile foundations' – The Cyclists' Alliance responds to UCI with warning that pro cycling is in danger

The Cyclists' Alliance (TCA) has issued a stark warning about the precarious state of professional women’s cycling, responding to the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) recent consultation on improving the sport. Despite the UCI’s claims of significant growth in women’s cycling, TCA president Grace Brown emphasises that this progress masks underlying fragility within the sport’s infrastructure. The Alliance highlights the disappearance of key development races, the folding of teams, and a shrinking pool of professional riders outside the Women’s WorldTour, all of which threaten the sustainability of the women’s peloton. TCA’s comprehensive 16-page submission outlines critical concerns about the current economic model, describing it as structurally imbalanced and unsustainable. The organisation argues that the development pathway is fragmented and underfunded, with rising regulatory and operational costs forcing many riders and teams out of the sport. While acknowledging the growing fanbase and the sport’s appeal when broadcasted, TCA calls for a more coherent strategy to engage spectators, including longer live coverage of women’s races and reconsideration of paywall restrictions that limit accessibility. Among the key recommendations, TCA advocates for more spectator-friendly race formats, a fairer distribution of costs and revenues, and a calendar that reduces the excessive concentration of races in early May and June. The Alliance suggests rescheduling the Vuelta Femenina to September to alleviate pressure on riders and teams and reduce the risk of injury and burnout. This call for calendar reform underscores the need for a more balanced and sustainable competitive season for women’s cycling. Safety concerns form a crucial part of TCA’s response, with urgent calls for mandatory, independently audited course safety standards and improved race infrastructure, such as foot-less sprint barriers and ski-style safety netting on descents. The Alliance also demands enhanced medical protocols, including better concussion management and screening for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Furthermore, TCA stresses the importance of a robust framework to address riders’ ethical and safeguarding concerns swiftly and effectively. The full document, which will be published on The Cyclists' Alliance website, represents a significant challenge to the UCI to take decisive action in securing the future of women’s professional cycling. With voices like Elisa Longo Borghini warning of potential collapse, the Alliance’s intervention highlights the urgent need for structural reform to ensure the sport’s growth is matched by stability and safety.