August 18, 2025 – The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA) expresses its concern at the events surrounding the Tour de Romandie Féminin, and the disqualification of thirty riders from racing one of the last World Tour stage races of the season.
From speaking with riders present at the race, we understand that riders were largely kept out of the loop of the discussions and decisions which resulted in them not racing. Some riders only found out that they would not race on the morning of Stage One. TCA expresses its concern for riders who are out of contract at the end of this year; for some, the race was a key final opportunity to show a good result on the World Tour stage.
While the dispute was primarily between the UCI and teams, the subject concerned riders and therefore TCA believes that riders should have been kept informed and also consulted.
Riders have a right to be informed about situations and decisions that will materially impact them and their career. Furthermore, riders have a right to be informed about the collection and use of both their personal and performance data.
We understand that the motive behind the tracking was part of a bigger effort by the UCI towards better safety in racing. While we can all agree that we want safer races, we cannot agree to any means to achieve it.
The Cyclists’ Alliance believes that efforts by the UCI to move cycling towards a safer future will be improved by increasing consultation, collaboration and communication with its key stakeholders – the riders and the teams which make up the sport.
Every stakeholder in cycling can agree that we all want safer races. This is a common goal. Safer cycling is a win-win-win for all stakeholders. We hope that all parties involved in events this weekend at Tour de Romandie Féminin can learn from this experience and that, in the future, consideration of riders’ rights and what happens to riders’ data takes a more central role in the dialogue.
The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA) is the independent voice of women’s professional cycling that represents and supports female riders from around the world. Founded and led by former and current professional cyclists, TCA provides resources to help riders succeed both on and off the bike.
With a mission to ‘strive for fairness’, TCA advocates for equal opportunities, better working conditions, and a level playing field for women in cycling. The goal is to create a future where every rider can thrive and earn a sustainable living from the sport.
