The details of the One Cycling reform project, designed to shake up and modernize professional cycling, are still shrouded in mystery, hidden from fans by secret negotiations and confidentiality agreements. Richard Plugge of Visma-Lease a Bike seemed to be the initial driving force behind the One Cycling idea.
Now other teams and some big race organizers are also involved. EF Education-Easypost, Lidl-Trek, Ineos Grenadiers, Bora-Hansgrohe and Soudal-QuickStep are some of the biggest teams in the sport and they all seem to believe that One Cycling can finally change the business model of professional cycling by reducing dependence on revenue of sponsorship and the need for success in the Tour de France.
Soudal-QuickStep manager Patrick Lefevere believes that private equity investors can be convinced to fund One Cycling and that some teams can work together with other interested parties to create something new that will increase their revenue and eventually , encourage others, including ASO (organizer of the Tour de France), to get involved.
“Do you know why I believe in the One Cycling project? Because if there are four or five teams involved, it can work,” Lefevere told a small group of media at the recent Soudal-QuickStep media day in Spain.
Negative people in cycling
“It’s always the same song; there are a lot of negative people in cycling. If we just sit here, nothing will happen. If you want to see a miracle, go to Lourdes, but if we want things to change, we have to work on it and work in the same direction.
“If there are 18 people with their hands on the steering wheel (18 World Tour teams) this won’t happen. Three, four or five teams have to take the lead. If that happens, the others will follow. Then, when it’s done and signed, you can go to your colleagues and ask, ‘We did this, do you want to join us or not?’ Even if you didn’t do anything for it, you can get so much money from the new project.’”
Private company would run the sport
Some believe that the One Cycling project could revolutionize the sport and ultimately unite teams, race organizers and even the UCI.
With the current WorldTour team and racing licenses lasting until the end of 2025, any new projects could begin in the 2026 season.
It is unclear whether Tour de France organizer ASO is willing to be part of the One Cycling project. The powerful French organizer exerts great influence on the sport due to the sporting and commercial importance of the Tour de France.
The Grand Tours could be like the Grand Slams in tennis and stand above the other races, with other ASO races such as Paris-Nice, Liège-Bastogne-Liège perhaps eventually being part of the new One Cycling project. However, ASO has always sought to defend its own interests and especially the importance of the Tour de France.
ASO doesn’t want to share the cake
“For sure, they don’t want to share the pie,” admitted Lefevere, indicating how the ASO defends the significant revenues generated by the Tour de France.
However, ASO may be interested in creating a new, bigger pie if it gets a significant slice.
“We are on a boat and its name is ‘Cycling’. If we row in the same direction, the cake can grow. They (ASO) can keep the pie they have, but if the pie grows by 200%, they will be at the table”, suggested Lefevere, mixing his business model metaphors, but speaking with good commercial sense.
Lefevere suggested a One Cycling dream scenario, with the new project being unveiled on the eve of the 2025 Tour de France, to perhaps share the spotlight of the biggest race on the calendar