February 23rd, 2026 – The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA) and Complete Concussions have announced a new partnership aimed at improving concussion awareness, education, and access to support services for riders in women’s professional cycling.
Concussions are a reality in a sport where speed, pack dynamics, and unpredictable incidents can turn a routine race day into a medical decision in seconds. And unlike many injuries, concussions can be difficult to spot. Symptoms may be subtle, delayed, or easy to downplay in the moment. In a competitive environment where athletes are expected to perform, travel, and recover quickly, recognising and managing concussion properly becomes both a health issue and a safety issue.
This partnership is designed to strengthen the support available to riders, with a focus on practical education and clearer pathways to evidence-based resources when they’re needed most.
What the partnership provides
Through this partnership, riders supported by The Cyclists’ Alliance will have access to evidence-based concussion education and tools, including:
- Access to the Complete Concussions app
- Educational resources focused on recognition, reporting, and management of concussion symptoms
- Referral pathways to specialist services when appropriate
Together, the organizations are working to improve rider safety, awareness, and long-term wellbeing across the professional peloton, helping ensure concussion support is not dependent on geography, team resources, or whether an athlete feels confident speaking up.
Why this matters for women’s professional cycling
Women’s professional cycling has continued to evolve, with growing audiences, higher performance standards, and more visibility than ever before. With that evolution comes increasing attention to athlete welfare, including the systems riders can rely on when health issues arise.
TCA exists to ensure every female rider can race with greater confidence and support, and with the opportunity to build a sustainable career in the sport. Its work focuses on three pillars: advocacy, education, and support services, all aimed at improving standards and protecting athletes throughout their careers and beyond.
Complete Concussions works to improve the collective understanding of concussion prevention, management, and prognosis, and to make evidence-based concussion care more widely available. Their approach emphasizes education, clear decision-making support, and access to appropriate care, principles that align closely with TCA’s commitment to rider wellbeing.
In that sense, the partnership reflects a shared view: concussion support should not be reactive, inconsistent, or dependent on who happens to be nearby. Riders deserve reliable resources that help them make informed decisions, not just in the immediate aftermath of an incident, but in the days and weeks that follow.
Shared commitment to rider safety and long-term wellbeing
“This partnership with Complete Concussions reinforces The Cyclists’ Alliance commitment to rider safety by expanding riders’ access to evidence-based concussion education and support,” said Deena Blacking, Managing Director of The Cyclists’ Alliance. “Knowledge is power; the Complete Concussions app is an invaluable tool for athletes to take ownership of their health and wellbeing by helping them to recognise, report, and manage concussion.”
The partnership also reflects a broader shift happening across sport: increasing recognition that brain health deserves the same seriousness, structure, and support systems as any other aspect of athlete care.
While concussion conversations often focus on the moment of impact, the real risk frequently comes later, when symptoms are missed, ignored, or minimised, and when athletes are left without a clear path forward. By combining TCA’s rider-first support model with Complete Concussions’ education and resource tools, this partnership aims to make that path clearer.
Looking ahead
Both organizations describe this partnership as a step toward stronger standards of support for women’s professional cyclists, and toward a culture where athletes are empowered to prioritize health without fear of losing opportunity.
In a sport built on resilience, it’s a meaningful message: recognition and proper care of concussions is not a weakness, but an essential part of protecting performance, careers, and long-term quality of life.
About The Cyclists’ Alliance
The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA) is the independent voice of women’s professional cycling. The organization advocates for safe, fair, and equitable working conditions across the sport, while supporting riders through advocacy, education, and access to support services. TCA works to raise standards and protect athletes throughout their careers and beyond.
About Complete Concussions
Complete Concussions (Complete Concussion Management Inc.) provides evidence-based concussion education, training, and resources designed to support better outcomes for those impacted by concussion. The organization’s mission is to improve the collective understanding of concussion prevention, management, and prognosis, and to help make high-quality concussion care more widely available.
