Talk of a budget cap in pro cycling has circulated for some time, but plans may finally become reality as soon as 2026, as multiple sources tell Escape Collective that the Union Cycliste Internationale has been pushing for a budget cap along with other senior stakeholders. This summer, the sport’s world governing body began working with the Switzerland-based accountancy firm PwC, which has previously consulted on the introduction of financial regulations in a range of other sports.

PwC presented options for a Financial Fairness Initiative (FFI) to a group of stakeholders at the Zurich-held Road World Championships in late September. That proposal, a copy of which was obtained by Escape, highlighted seven financial sustainability models used in other sports, noting which are and are not applicable to cycling’s unique structure. A small working group has proposed creating a tailored system unique to cycling that brings together the key elements of other models currently used in a number of sports across the globe. 

The stated objective of the presentation was to “define the founding principles for the new financial sustainability regulations to be implemented in the 2026 season.”

This article was published on Escape Collective in October 2024. You can read the full article here.