Women's professional cycling report exposes major inequalities and calls for increased TV coverage
The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA) has called for better financial security, rider welfare and healthcare in the women’s peloton, as well as full live coverage of the biggest races on the calendar.
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The organisation published its latest 43-page report on Friday titled: State of the Women’s Professional Peloton 2026, surveying and setting out six priorities for better working conditions to help riders build sustainable careers.
These priorities included financial security, race safety, rider welfare and duty of care, safeguarding, development opportunities and broadcast visibility.
The report, which was based on responses from 127 professional female cyclists, highlighted significant differences between different team levels, with Continental-level riders facing the biggest inequality.
According to the TCA, three-quarters of the 52 continental respondents do not receive a team salary; 79% have a one-year contract, compared to 90% of WorldTour respondents having a contract at least two years in length; meanwhile, 54% have uncovered medical or physiotherapy costs.
Additionally, only 17% report regular medical screening compared to 90% of WorldTour respondents.
The reasons for considering an early exit from the sport varied across the different team levels, with 73% of Continental riders highlighting financial instability or inadequate salaries, 40% of ProTeam riders identifying injury or health concerns, while 40% of WorldTour respondents cited unsafe racing conditions.
Meanwhile, 23% of all respondents admitted considering an early departure due to a negative or toxic team culture at one point during their careers.
Safety and the lack of development opportunities were also areas of concern with 41% of respondents aged 19-22 reporting a lack of suitable races compared to 20% of riders aged 23 or over.
The 2026 Tour de l’Avenir Femmes, was cancelled with race organisers stating that the structures in the under-23 ranks in women’s cycling are currently insufficient.
TV coverage
On broadcast visibility, the TCA called for clear roadmaps towards full live coverage of the sport’s biggest races and wants comparable audience figures to be published, providing greater transparency over how commercial growth translates into investment in women’s cycling and improved rider conditions.
This year marked the first time that both the men’s and women’s Paris-Roubaix took place on the same day. However, this meant that live coverage for the women’s event was slashed to just the final third of the race.
Additionally, only three out of the nine Tour de France Femmes stages were broadcast from start to finish, compared to all 21 stages of the men’s event.
“Women’s cycling needs to offer riders a career they can sustain. That means knowing which costs their team will cover, being able to get medical care and feeling safe to raise a concern,” Grace Brown, president of the TCA, said.
"Our report identifies where those foundations are missing and what needs to change. We want to work with the sport’s decision-makers on clear commitments, with responsibility for delivery and evidence that riders’ conditions are improving," added Brown.
