In the current Coronavirus pandemic, the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), David Lappartient, called an extraordinary meeting of the UCI Management Committee on 2 April.
A series of economic measures were adopted at the meeting to confront the sporting and financial consequences of the world health crisis for the international federation, in a situation marked by the postponement – or even cancellation – of all upcoming cycling competitions.
“Our international federation is going through a crisis that we haven’t experienced since the Second World War,” declared UCI President David Lappartient. “Inactivity is hitting athletes, teams, organisers, partners and the large majority of people and organisations that contribute to the vitality of our sport, across all its disciplines.
“The UCI, cycling’s governing body, has not been spared, far from it. The postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the multiplication of postponements and cancellations of events on the UCI International Calendar, and the uncertainty that weighs on the second part of the season are having a large impact on our sport in general and our federation in particular. I
“t is time for the cycling family to rally and, as one, prepare our sport to recover from this health and economic crisis that it has been hit by. Each of us is called on to be united, responsible and strong. That is why the UCI has taken some drastic action that should enable it to weather the storm. These choices are difficult but necessary if we wish to rebuild cycling post-Covid-19.”
Cycling at a halt
As at 9 April, UCI has received more than 650 requests from organisers for the postponement or cancellation of events over a period that currently extends until the month of August.
This figure represents 30% of the year’s UCI International Calendar. Road and mountain bike are the most affected disciplines. For example, the Giro d’Italia, the Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix, three prestigious UCI WorldTour events, have been affected. Likewise, the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz in Albstadt (Germany) have been postponed.
In addition, several rounds of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup must be rescheduled, while others have had to be cancelled at the request of their organisers. The UCI World Championships for BMX Racing have also been pushed back, and those for para-cycling road risk cancellation.
On top of this difficult situation comes the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, finally pushed back one year by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – to take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021 and from 24 August to 5 September 2021 respectively.
UCI notes that the postponements and cancellations will lead to a significant reduction of revenues for the international governing body.
Inactivity weighs heavily on UCI finances
In solidarity and as part of the support measures put in place since the beginning of the crisis, the UCI will reimburse all calendar registration fees to organisers of cancelled events due to take place in the period during which the holding of events is fully restricted.
‘The calendar fees represent a significant part of the UCI’s revenue. This initiative will have consequences on the UCI’s financial results.’
Conscious of the impact of the current crisis on the professional peloton, the UCI created a working group, composed of representatives of riders (CPA), teams (AIGCP) and the international federation. The UCI and its partners have agreed on the framework that will enable teams facing serious financial difficulties to be able to take necessary measures so they can continue in the context of the pandemic.
Particular consideration is being given to the UCI World Championships and UCI World Cups. The rounds of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup are notably important in terms of revenue for UCI.
Moreover, the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will lead to a considerable loss of earnings for UCI. The organisation anticipates both a possible postponement – to 2021 – of the payment of Olympic revenues initially expected in the second semester of 2020, and a probable reduction of the sum paid to all international federations.
This amount enables the UCI to fulfil its development mission vis-à-vis its 196 national federations throughout the Olympic cycle, via the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) and its satellite centres around the world.
Cost-saving plan
The UCI Management Committee has approved an ‘unprecedented cost-saving plan’:
- The UCI’s leaders (elected and senior management) have decided to reduce their salaries or allowances.
- Full or partial furlough – at different percentages – for all 130 employees of the UCI and UCI WCC.
- Freezing of recruitment for an undefined period.
- Total revision of projects and objectives that had been fixed for 2020 and following years, and those in progress.
- Resizing of solidarity projects for national federations.
- Generalisation of virtual meetings for the UCI Management Committee, UCI Commissions and seminars.
- Examination (in progress) of contracts of service providers at events, consultants and general providers.
