There is no doubt that women’s cycling is in a golden era. It only takes tuning into races such as the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to see that. More and more teams have the resources and budgets to create professional and thriving working environments, creating a wider talent pool at the top. As a result, spectating women’s WorldTour races is better than ever – over 7 million people watched the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes last month, only 500,000 fewer viewers than the 8.2 million who tuned in for the finale of the men’s Tour de France which took place a few days before. We’ve even seen investment from global powerhouse brands such as Nike for the first time, with huge companies recognising the booming appeal of women’s sport. However, the work is far from done.
A recent survey by The Cyclists’ Alliance released this week has revealed that there is still a widening disparity between the upper and lower echelons of the sport. The annual survey is one of the most comprehensive reports on the current state of women’s cycling, representing responses from 202 riders from 43 teams, across seven disciplines. Some of the main findings were that 84% of Continental riders earn under €20,000 annually. while 42% of Continental riders have a second job while also trying to race competitively full time. Financial concerns are still the main reason why over half of newer professionals consider quitting the sport.
It isn’t just from a financial perspective that the survey shows some concerning signs when it comes to the state of the sport. 14% of respondents reported neglected athlete well-being, while 12% face unfair selection practice and 7% feel pressure to race while injured or unwell. Riders also reported abuse of authority, bullying, and verbal abuse.
While at the very top tier of the sport – riders who are part of the Women’s WorldTour – financial concerns are less prevalent, there were still issues raised surrounding the topic of rider safety. Dangerous race conditions remain the leading reason World Tour riders leave the sport prematurely with better race safety being one of the riders’ top three advocacy priorities in 2025.
The survey did also highlight some positive signs of continued professionalisation of the sport, with over 75% of World Tour and Pro riders now holding multi-year contracts and 54% of riders surveyed being able to live solely off their income from racing. More riders are seeking professional advice and support: in 2025, 39% of riders sought legal assistance before signing a contract, and 47% worked with an agent.
Overall, the situation at the very top of women’s cycling for those at WorldTour and Pro level is trending positively. However, The Cyclists’ Alliance raises concerns that these benefits are not trickling down to the lower rungs of the sport. Following the findings from the annual survey, the TCA reiterated its commitment to three key issues: safety, financial security for those outside WorldTour and Pro levels and more television broadcast time in order to grow the fan base and maximise the commercial potential of the sport.
Above all, the TCA reiterated its previous call to the UCI to improve working conditions within Continental teams. This means the implementation of professional standards for any team organisation, better monitoring and enforcement of compliance with existing UCI regulations by teams and the creation of minimum financial standards for any prospective or current teams. Women's cycling is still on the up, but the journey is still just beginning.
