'The time for endlessly debating and re-diagnosing the problem has passed' – Rapha launches updated 'Roadmap' for the future of cycling as UCI consultation period concludes

Rapha has reissued its updated Roadmap for the future of professional cycling on the day the UCI consultation period on the sport’s reform concluded. Originally published in 2019, the Roadmap outlines key challenges facing cycling and proposes significant reforms aimed at making the sport more accessible, sustainable, and engaging for fans. The brand has previously demonstrated its commitment to change by creating an alternative racing calendar with EF Education First in 2020 and launching the Rapha Super-League last year, a UK-based season-long race series. Fran Millar, Rapha’s CEO since September 2024 and former Ineos Grenadiers chief, wrote the foreword to the updated document, expressing frustration at the lack of progress in cycling despite years of debate. She highlighted that many issues identified in the original Roadmap remain unresolved, including the sport’s fragile financial model heavily reliant on external sponsorship and a governance system that often seems more focused on self-preservation than growth. Millar urged stakeholders to move beyond endless discussions and seize the current UCI consultation as a genuine opportunity for meaningful reform. The updated Roadmap, developed in collaboration with The Outer Line, comprises twelve sections that revisit the 2019 proposals and introduce fresh ideas. Among the key recommendations are shortening the racing calendar, revising team structures, improving race coverage, and diversifying revenue streams to enhance the sport’s stability and appeal. Rapha emphasises that while it does not claim to have all the answers, it is motivated by a deep passion for cycling and a desire to unlock its untapped potential. The UCI’s consultation, launched in February 2026 and closing at the end of April, invited input from a broad range of stakeholders including teams, race organisers, riders’ associations, and national federations. The governing body, led by David Lappartient, aims to use the feedback to develop a stronger and more sustainable model for both men’s and women’s professional road cycling. With recent reforms having fostered growth in areas such as internationalisation and women’s racing, the consultation represents a critical moment for the sport to build on this momentum through collective dialogue and shared responsibility.