Road Cycling Reformation
Recently road cycling is referred as the most conservative sport by Eusebio Unzué, manager of UCI WorldTour team, Movistar Team. I knew that from an article from Cyclingnews.com which I read on February 6th 2024. The article could be read on https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/this-is-the-most-conservative-sport-unzue-calls-for-substitutions-in-grand-tours/. After reading the article, I felt that road cycling needs innovations and some form of reformation. Road cycling has to reform because of Eusebio Unzué's statement on article that I read. Reformation is needed because road cycling wants to become the innovative sport.
Road cycling reformation could be started with race formats. Road cycling races would consist one day races, three day stage races, six day stage races and 15 stages Grand Tours. One day races would held for one day on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Three day stage races would held for three days which held on Friday-Sunday. Three day stage races are created to bridging one day races and typical stage races which could held for up to nine days. Three day stage race is the one of the key innovations of road cycling because there are races on Friday-Sunday which inspired by Formula 1 which one race is held for three days. Three day stage races are ideal for every professional and amateur cyclists because they only require to race for few days and there are plenty of spaces and rests. Three day stage races are also ideal for cycling fans who are working and going to school which the race days would not interfere their works and studies. Three day stage races would available for all race levels, even amateur level. Three day stage races would become the important part of road cycling. Typical stage races would be shortened into six day stage races in sake of efficiency. Six day stage races would held for six days on Tuesday-Sunday. Six day stage races are the main races on road cycling and available for all race levels.
Grand Tours would be shortened to 15 stages in sake of efficiency and as the part of innovation. 15 stages Grand Tours are for both men and women in sake of gender equity. Women's Grand Tours are held before men's Grand Tours. 15 stages Grand Tours consist of 1st-3rd stage which held on Friday-Sunday, 4th-9th stage which held on Tuesday-Sunday and 10th-15th stage which held on Tuesday-Sunday. Rest days are still on Monday. Women's Giro d'Italia held from second week to fourth week of April and men's Giro d'Italia held from first week to third week of May. Women's Tour de France held from second week to fourth week of June and men's Tour de France held from first week to third week of July. Women's Vuelta a España held from first week to third week of August and men's Vuelta a España held from fourth week of August to second week of September.
Race length would be standardized for both men and women. Standardization of race length is enforced in sake of efficiency. Race lengths for one day race are 200 km and 240 km for men and 160 km and 200 km for women. Race lengths for road races including Grand Tours are 120 km, 160 km and 200 km for men and 80 km, 120 km and 160 km for women. Race lengths for time trial races are 10 km, 20 km and 40 km for men and 5 km, 10 km and 20 km for women. All races would use this standardized lengths for all racing levels which intended for elite cyclists. If road cycling race lengths are standardized, audience could predict the races precisely. Races would be shorter, so the broadcasting and viewing time would be shorter. Shorter races would benefit cyclists and audience, mainly audience whom used watching short videos and programs. Standardized race length is one of the key innovations of road cycling which rooted on athletics, cross country skiing and speed skating.
Road cycling teams would be standardized for both men's and women's teams. There are 18 teams on WorldTour level for men and women and 54 teams on ProTeam level for men and women. Teams for men and women for all levels are similar in sake of gender equality. Teams on ProTeam are mostly from Europe, but teams from other continents are welcome. ProTeam level would have allocation according to continent in sake of globalization. ProTeam allocation is 24 teams from Europe, eight teams from Americas, Asia and Africa and six teams from Oceania. Allocation based on continent would help globalize road cycling. With continent allocation, many countries are competing for ProTeam spots. Continental level consists 4-16 teams per country, stronger countries and countries with larger populations would have more teams. Regional level consists 4-32 team per country with similar format with Continental teams. Teams for lower levels are similar for men and women for both Continental and Regional levels.
Number of riders on each team would be standardized on road cycling. Team structure on road cycling is similar with team sports like football. Each professional team consists 32 riders on WorldTour and ProTeam levels and 24 riders on Continental and Regional levels. Each club, amateur and development (feeder) team consists 16 riders. Number of riders on each team is similar for men and women in sake of gender equality. Road cycling would become the sport with largest number of athletes on a team which would surpass football and other team sports. Large number of riders on road cycling team is actually logical since all international competitions requiring eight riders on each team. All type of races, from one day races to Grand Tours would consist eight riders each team which is implemented for men's and women's competitions. Similar number of riders for each team on teams and races is one of the key innovations of road cycling since they promote gender equality.
Road cycling competitions would be gender equal. All prominent competitions, from Grand Tours to one day races would have competitions for men and women. Gender equality could reached on competitions on all levels, from amateur to WorldTour competitions. Women's competitions would be held before men's competitions which is similar with winter sports like cross country skiing. Women's competitions would be held one week before men's competitions to enforce gender equality. Number of stages for stage races are similar for men's and women's competitions. Gender equality would be implemented on road cycling because many women are watching road cycling competitions.
Safety system would be improved on road cycling. All road cycling venues would use flexible road barriers which installed on sidewalk in order to prevent crashes and clashes between cyclists and spectators. Flexible road barriers would become the mandatory on all cycling competitions to reduce injury and death rates among spectators and cyclists. Flexible road barriers are usually made from plastic, but could made from other materials. Flexible road barriers are one of the key innovations of road cycling and the second revolutionary after 15 stage Grand Tours. Technologies on road cycling equipment would be improved, mainly on safety aspect. Cycling helmets would improve safety features and there is early detection sensor on helmets to detect the possibility of crashes. Road bikes would also improve safety features which would reduce injury and death rates among cyclists and spectators. Safety would become one of the main aspects on road cycling alongside with globalization and gender equality.
UCI as the international cycling federation should enforce road cycling reformation because road cycling wants to become the innovative sport. Key innovations on road cycling are three day stage races, 15 stages Grand Tours, standardized race lengths for men's and women's races, standardized number of riders on men's and women's teams and competitions and flexible road barriers on races. Globalization, gender equality and safety would become the main aspects on road cycling. Reformation on road cycling is inspired with Formula 1, athletics, cross country skiing, speed skating and football. UCI, national and continental federations would implementing innovations and reformation of road cycling in few years.
Taken from my email to UCI on 7th February 2024.
Newer version written on 6th April 2025.












