The Cyclists’ Alliance welcomes the direction of the UCI’s reform plans for professional road cycling. Having contributed to the consultation on the future of professional road cycling, TCA is actively seeking formal inclusion in the 9–10 December discussions. Our State of the Women’s Professional Peloton 2026 Impact Report, due in October, will bring riders’ experiences and priorities into that process.
Safer finishes, and safer roads to reach them
The decision by the UCI Management Committee in Montréal, Canada, during the 2026 UCI Road World Championships to require compliant barriers in the final 200 metres at WorldTour and Women’s WorldTour finishes from 2027 is a concrete step. Our survey shows why course protection matters beyond that final stretch: 68% of road riders raised concerns about poor road surfaces, 65% about road furniture and 62% about unsafe final kilometres. These responses do not establish crash causes, but they identify where riders want closer scrutiny and better protection.
We also welcome the commitment to develop GPS safety tracking. Its value will depend on connecting reliable location information to a medical response that can reach every rider, while the ongoing injury study offers an opportunity for the UCI to examine both how crashes happen and why their consequences differ, including the support available to riders during recovery. We ask the UCI to publish the complete injury study methodology including data-collection protocols and statistical uncertainty/significance, building on the information already reported publicly.
Healthcare must support the whole pathway
Our survey shows how uneven access to healthcare remains. Regular medical screening reaches 90% of WorldTeam respondents, compared with 17% of Continental respondents; nutrition and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) education reaches 71% and 21%, respectively. Improving access to clinical screening, advice and treatment should form part of the sport’s plans for sustainable growth, with funding to support delivery across team tiers.
Give developing riders room to progress
A stronger racing pyramid must provide opportunities to build experience. Insufficient development races concern 41% of survey respondents aged 19–22, compared with 20% of those aged 23 and over.
As the UCI reviews the calendar and participation structures, TCA wants to help assess whether developing riders have enough access to appropriate competition, coaching and technical preparation. Calendar decisions should also account for travel and recovery across the season.
Source note: All survey percentages come from The Cyclists’ Alliance’s 2026 Rider Survey, which received 127 responses. The full Impact Report, including methodology and sample context, will be released in October 2026.
From consultation to practical change
TCA is ready to work with the UCI, teams, organisers and fellow rider representatives to turn these priorities into funded actions, clear responsibilities and measurable improvements.
Our forthcoming Impact Report will provide further evidence for that work. The test of reform will be what changes for riders: safer racing, dependable support and a viable route through the sport.
