Recommendations from “A Bright Future for Cycling” to be considered by Management Committee
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced the details of the Stakeholder Consultation Exercise, dubbed “A Bright Future for Cycling”, which was announced in November. The exercise will take place between February 21st and March 15th, covering topics under the broad headings of globalisation, anti-doping, the cycling calendar and riders; the fifth subject of the “governance of cycling” will be what the UCI refers to as a “red thread,” which will run through all of the other four.
“We saw last year in the Olympic Games that cycling is one of the world’s most popular sports, both for participants and spectators,” said UCI president Pat McQuaid. “The aim of this consultation is for the UCI to listen to stakeholders’ views so they can help to shape cycling’s bright future by making it an even more popular sport.
“This consultation will look forward to ensure that our sport is the best it can possibly be,” he added. “The different worlds of sport, of technology and of media are all changing every day and cycling must keep up – as all cycling enthusiasts know, when the peloton moves forward you either keep up or get left behind.”
The UCI has commissioned global professional services firm Deloitte to manage the exercise, who will present their findings to the UCI Management Committee in the second quarter of the year. The UCI will then decide on the best course of action to take to “improve the organisation, operation and image of cycling.”
The UCI also notes that: “Key findings and recommendations will be published.”
All of the stakeholders in cycling have been invited to participate in the process, including riders, teams, race organisers, sponsors, sports institutions, the media and fans.
“I very much look forward to hearing the views of all cycling’s stakeholders in this unprecedented exercise for our sport,” said McQuaid. “I strongly believe that our stakeholders will be keen to assist the UCI in giving cycling new momentum and ensure that our sport has the wonderful future that it deserves.”