Major teams reportedly become shareholders in private Collective Cycling Group made at driving change in pro cycling

26 leading men’s and women’s teams have reportedly agreed to become shareholders in the Collective Cycling Group, a commercial project aimed at driving reforms in professional cycling, in a move that will put them at loggerheads with the UCI, who are working on their own reform plans.

Details of the creation of Collective Cycling Group (CCG) was reported by Chris Marshall Bell for the Escape Collective.

Teams and some race organisers have tried to pressure the UCI to make more innovative reforms for many years only to be blocked by the UCI and obstructed by Tour de France organiser ASO, by far the most powerful and wealthy stakeholder in the sport.

In 2025 the UCI refused a request from the One Cycling group to create new WorldTour races, making the project financially unviable. One Cycling had support from the Saudi Arabian SURJ Sports Investment fund but struggled to convince a sufficient number of teams to sign-up.

This time CCG has reportedly convinced seventeen team owners representing 26 different men’s and women’s teams to become shareholders as the rising costs and poor business model of pro cycling divides the sport. 

"Cycling should have a Concorde Agreement like in Formula 1," Tudor Pro Cycling team owner Fabian Cancellara told Domestique on Thursday.  

"Everyone can have their ego, that's alright. But we need some common sense for the sport. If not, then you just destroy yourself. That's just the reality."  

Billionaire businessman Ivan Glasenberg, who owns the Pinarello-Q36.5 team and the brands who sponsor it, is said to be the driving force behind CCG, with at least verbal support from major race organisers Flanders Classics and RCS Sport, who organise the Giro d'Italia.

According to Escape Collective, team representatives gathered in Brussels on Thursday to formally sign shareholder agreements after a year of discussions.

11 men’s WorldTour teams and their women’s teams had already signed-up to CCG and Movistar, Soudal Quick-Step, Pinarello-Q36.5 and Tudor Pro Cycling reportedly signed-up in Brussels. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Netcompany-Ineos apparently requested for more time but are likely to join CCG.

Unibet Rose Rockets considered the project but eventually opted out, perhaps concerned about their chances of securing a 2027 Tour de France wild card as punishment for their involvement. The Canyon-Sram and SD Worx-Protime women's also became shareholders in CCG but FDJ United-Suez have yet to come onboard.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Jayco-AlUla and Groupama-FDJ United have always been against the idea of an independent commercial company trying to drive reform, preferring to back the UCI's project.   

Escape Collective reported that other teams can still join CCG at a later date, but with less favourable terms. The shareholder teams will control 95% of the company, with the remaining five percent owned by seed investors Pinarello-Q36.5, Visma-Lease a Bike, EF Education, NSN, and Lidl-Trek, who have invested €25m.

Oliver Ciesla, who has a past in the business of motor racing, was hired as CEO of CCG in 2025 and was made a director in the summer, replacing Richard Plugge.

CCG has apparently developed an outline business plan, part of which is based on the One Cycling plan. CCG knows they have to tread carefully to avoid intervention from the UCI and any possible legal action under European law.

CCG will probably not go as far as threatening to boycott the Tour de France but could send their best riders to races that agree to work with CCG. This could benefit the Giro d'Italia and other races not controlled by ASO.

According to Escape Collective, CCG also hopes to generate new commercial revenue collectively, including from any new race television rights, and develop new regulations to secure better financial sustainability.

CCG is expected to formally announce their shareholders and projects but it remains to be seen what impact they can have on reforming pro cycling. The UCI is the official governing body of the sport, with riders, teams and race organisers the key stakeholders who sit on the different UCI commissions.

The UCI is working on their reform plans, with initial details expected to be presented at the UCI WorldTour Seminar in early November.

The UCI hopes to develop a more coherent race calendar, introduce a financial fairness mechanism such as a budget cap, improve race safety, further grow women's cycling and modernising race broadcasting and fan engagement.