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The highly anticipated One Cycling project, aimed at reshaping professional cycling’s business model, has encountered a significant setback as the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) appears to have dismissed its inclusion in the Women’s and Men’s WorldTour calendars for 2026, and potentially for the subsequent two years. Led by Visma-Lease a Bike manager Richard Plugge, One Cycling seeks to stabilize the sport economically by leveraging substantial investments and increasing control over television revenue. The project has garnered support from teams like Visma-Lease a Bike, EF Education-EasyPost, Soudal Quick-Step, and race organizer Flanders Classics, with reported backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) through SURJ Sports Investment. However, the UCI and its Professional Cycling Council (PCC) have deemed the project incompatible with the sport’s governance and regulatory framework, as well as lacking in sporting coherence.
While UCI president David Lappartient had previously confirmed discussions with One Cycling representatives, the UCI Management Committee unanimously decided not to include the project in the WorldTour calendars. The decision leaves One Cycling in a precarious position, as alternative races not part of the WorldTour would struggle to gain prominence and credibility. The UCI’s statement emphasized the importance of adhering to the sport’s governance and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s controversial human rights record as a point of concern. Despite rejecting the project in its current form, the UCI expressed openness to future discussions regarding the internationalization and economic development of cycling.
In parallel with this decision, the UCI confirmed the Women’s and Men’s WorldTour calendars for the 2026–2028 cycle. Notably, the Giro d’Italia Women will shift its dates to avoid overlapping with the men’s Tour de France, aiming to enhance media coverage and attention. Additionally, the Frauen Tour of Flanders will be upgraded to the UCI Women’s WorldTour, and organizers will increase participation allowances for women’s teams by 20%, alongside providing more hotel rooms for stage races. These changes reflect the UCI’s commitment to advancing women’s cycling.
The 2026 UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar will include 28 events across 11 countries, totaling 77 racing days. Key races include the Santos Tour Down Under, UAE Tour Women, and the Tour de France Women. The men’s calendar will feature 36 races in 13 countries, with 171 racing days, starting with the Santos Tour Down Under and concluding with the Tour of Guangxi. Both calendars aim to balance geographical diversity and sporting significance.
While One Cycling’s ambitious vision remains unrealized for now, the UCI’s decisions underscore the complexities of integrating new investment models into the sport’s established framework. The coming years will likely see continued dialogue between stakeholders on how to sustain and grow professional cycling in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
