Richard Plugge, CEO of Visma-Lease a Bike, has an ambitious vision for the future of the sport. He is behind the ONE Cycling project, which aims to redesign the entire cycling landscape to make it more profitable. In his words, he wants to make cycling a kind of Formula 1.
In an interview with AllSports Radio, Plugge explained: “We have to look at where cycling will be in ten years, how we can improve the sport and the business model. We want to do ONE Cycling with everyone, including the Tour de France, the other teams and the UCI. Cycling has much more potential than the money that is currently in it.”
ONE Cycling: Proposal for Change
The ONE Cycling project has faced some obstacles and has been stagnant for some time. “We talked for a long time, but then things stopped. This is frustrating. And in terms of investors, there are more people wanting to get in, not just the Saudis”, declares Plugge.
Additionally, with ONE Cycling, Plugge hopes to solve today’s cycling challenges. “It’s getting more and more complicated to organize a race. Logistics are becoming more difficult,” notes Plugge.
A New Approach to Cycling Racing
Plugge proposes an innovative solution to this logistical issue. “Why don’t we do laps? There will be a time when the Tour can no longer go from A to B for 200 kilometers, and they will decide to do laps. Now we have to pass through places at 60 km/h, when the maximum speed allowed is 30 km/h.”
Furthermore, Plugge highlights the financial benefits of this change: “The Tour of Flanders introduced this very successfully, and the World Championship is another example. This also generates money, as you can entertain the public and sell your hospitality.”
“This way we would keep the sport interesting for future generations, as there is a lot of competition from other sports for young people. We can get a lot more out of it than we currently have.”
Richard Plugge’s vision for the future of cycling is certainly challenging, but if ONE Cycling can follow through on his strategies and ideas, it could mark the beginning of a new era for the sport.
