Our goal is to empower riders both on and off the bike by offering comprehensive assistance including legal support, contract evaluations, career development guidance, mentorship opportunities and representation within cycling’s governing bodies.
Did you know that:
- 1 in 4 riders surveyed work a second job alongside racing
- Outside Women’s World Tour, more than half of riders (55%) earn less than 10,000 EUR a year
- The most common reason to leave the sport early overall is that racing is too dangerous
- Nearly 1 in 5 riders have said they feel unsafe in their cycling team
- Riders (continue to) value TCA’s free legal advice as the most important service provided to members
Source: 2024 Rider Survey
We want 100% of female cyclists to benefit from a safe and stable working environment.
We will achieve this by advocating for:
- All riders to earn a minimum salary
- Outside Women’s World Tour, more than half of riders (55%) earn less than 10,000 EUR a year. This is not sustainable and threatens the professionalisation of the sport, and the pipeline for new riders coming in.
- All riders to receive maternity leave, not just WWT riders.
Riders should be entitled to the higher of (i) five months of paid maternity leave or (ii) the period mandated by relevant national law.
- All racing and training expenses covered
Many riders are still required to reimburse their own team for expenses directly associated with racing, where they were contracted to appear - despite the number of women racing for below minimum wage.
- Paid vacation days and a mandatory minimum vacation block
We believe teams should be required to offer, at a minimum, 35 days.
- All support team members to be qualified, checked and professional
To support the professionalisation of the sport. Qualified staff members are essential to advancing the sport, protecting the riders and progressing cycling. The DS, at a minimum, must be certified by their national federation).
- Basic insurance for all riders as standard
We believe all riders should be fully insured and that this should be provided by their team, with life insurance, permanent total disability insurance and repatriation insurance as standard, given the inherent risks in the sport.
- A universal standardised approach to race safety
By creating a standardised approach and protocol that is audited by an independent third party, riders can race in the knowledge that all races meet the necessary safety requirements.
In just 8 years the TCA has:
- gained several hundred members across numerous teams and countries
- advised riders how to improve their contracts, and created a standard model contract
- led several successful arbitration cases on behalf riders against a team
- helped several riders to get released from their teams
- successfully run the TCA mentor program, offering mentorship to riders both at the start, mid, and end of their careers
- offered the Pre-Career x Strava grant program to aspiring young riders
- carried out an Annual Rider Survey to monitor change over time in the sport and listen to concerns on the riders
- established an elected rider council
- Create an awerness campaign on how riders can recognize situation of abuse and take appropriate action
- encouraged and assisted multiple riders to address misbehaviour at UCI Ethics Commission or National Federation Safe Sport