Cycling is a unique professional sport which is contested by individuals and teams on the open road. The lack of “stadiums” which can gather money from ticket sales is one reason, among many, that the sport is so dependant on sponsorship funding for races and teams. This is why an athlete union is so important for creating cooperation among all of our sport’s stakeholders to create new revenue opportunities.
Athletes only have to look at other sports for inspiration to find unity. All of the major global sporting leagues have strong unions to negotiate changes which lead to economic prosperity. This includes popular sports like European football and the U.S. Major League Soccer (men and women), American Football (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s NBA. In each case, the athletes banded together, reinforced and controlled their labor and earning rights, and negotiated with their respective sporting partners to develop all aspects of economic progress.
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