The Cyclists’ Alliance has released its eighth annual rider survey, drawing on responses from 202 professional women across 43 teams and seven disciplines. The findings underline how far the sport has come in terms of professionalisation and stability at the top, yet also show how many riders still face financial uncertainty, unsafe working environments, and premature career decisions. With more WorldTour and ProTeam riders benefiting from multi-year contracts and regulated salaries, the gap to the Continental level continues to grow.
Photo Credit: Getty2025 The Cyclists’ Alliance Rider Survey key takeaways
- Over half of riders (54%) now make their living solely from cycling, with only 19% needing a second job compared to 52% in 2017.
- Contract lengths have improved at WorldTour and ProTeam levels, with more than half on two-year deals or longer, but most Continental riders remain on one-year agreements.
- Salary inequality is widening: 17% of all respondents earn no salary at all, and 80% of riders outside WorldTour and ProTeams earn under €20,000.
- Race calendars are steady at around 30–50 days per year, but nearly half of Continental riders race fewer than 30 days.
- Riders continue to juggle multiple commitments: 29% are in education, 19% hold second jobs, and some Continental riders manage racing, studying, and working at the same time.
- Workplace issues persist: 14% cite neglected well-being, 12% report unfair selection practices, and others describe pressure to race when unwell, bullying, or verbal abuse.
- Riders’ top advocacy priorities for 2025 are improved race safety protocols, minimum salaries for all, and greater race broadcasting.
- Different tiers identify different reasons to leave the sport: WorldTour riders highlight dangerous conditions, ProTeam riders’ mental health and burnout, and Continental riders’ financial precarity.
- The Cyclists’ Alliance continues to provide essential support, with more than 100 riders receiving legal help in 2025 and 33 supported through the TCAMP mentor programme.
Photo Credit: GettyContracts and job security
The survey highlights how professional stability has grown for some riders but remains elusive for many others. WorldTour and ProTeam cyclists are now more likely to enjoy longer-term deals, with three-quarters on contracts of at least two years. At this level, riders benefit from employment status that secures protections such as insurance and pensions. Continental riders, however, remain in a precarious position. Only 35% have a contract longer than one year, and almost half are unclear about their employment classification altogether.
One rider, Sophie Marr, captured how transformative a multi-year deal can be. “I didn’t realise how much pressure came with moving from one-year contract to one-year contract until I was offered a two-year contract in a development team. It immediately lifted a lot of stress I’d been subconsciously carrying. Now, I feel I can make mistakes and learn without worrying that it might cost me a re-signing the following year… I also feel I’ll be able to grow more comfortable within the team environment, rather than be on edge for what is to come.”
Salary gaps widen
While the UCI introduced a minimum salary for WorldTour riders in 2020 and extended it to ProTeams in 2025, riders outside these categories remain excluded. The result is a stark divide. This year’s survey shows 17% of riders receive no salary, while 36% earn less than €20,000. Among Continental riders, 84% fall below that mark. By contrast, most at the WorldTour and ProTeam level fall within or above the mandated minimum ranges, between €20,000 and €62,000, depending on experience.
The Cyclists’ Alliance points out that these gaps undermine sustainability. Riders not covered by minimums often see contracts stagnate or even decline in value. Without stronger support at the lower levels, the sport risks losing developing talent before it can progress to the top tiers.
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Thomas MaheuxRace days and workload
The number of race days continues to sit in a familiar pattern, with just over half of riders competing 30 to 50 times in a season. That consistency hides significant differences. Almost half of Continental riders raced fewer than 30 days last year, while only around a quarter of WorldTour and ProTeam riders were at that level.
For some, the real strain comes less from the number of race days and more from the constant travel and limited time at home. Grace Brown, president of The Cyclists’ Alliance, explained: “Counting days doesn’t tell the full story. While it might look like women race less than men, the demands are different. Men often do more race days in concentrated blocks, whereas women’s races are fewer days, but more regular. The constant travel and more team days per race adds up and can be exhausting. During my years racing, I was travelling every week, with only a few days home in between. So, while some riders want more race opportunities, others are already feeling burnout.”
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Jennifer LindiniBalancing cycling, education and work
The percentage of riders combining education with their racing careers has fallen to 29%, the lowest since the survey began in 2017. Fewer riders are juggling university commitments, but nearly one in five still hold a second job alongside their racing. The contrast between tiers is clear. At the WorldTour level, 73% focus solely on cycling, with just 5% needing extra employment. Among Continental riders, 42% work a second job and 12% combine racing, studying, and outside work simultaneously.
For riders like Kiara Lylyk, the challenge of managing education alongside racing has been a useful experience. “Balancing school and cycling is what shaped me to be able to handle the adversity of professional sport now. Some people believe cycling is an all-consuming career, but it doesn’t take up 24 hours of the day. As long as I know what’s manageable, I can find a good balance. If it’s getting challenging, I take a step back and organise what needs to be done. School provides me with a different type of discipline and environment that broadens who I am beyond an athletic identity.”
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Thomas MaheuxProfessional support and agents
Representation and legal advice remain uneven across the peloton. Half of riders now work with agents, but this is mostly concentrated in WorldTour and ProTeams, where two-thirds have representation. At the Continental level, only one in four riders benefits from an agent. Similarly, 39% of all riders sought legal advice when signing contracts, but over half of Continental riders still went without.
The Cyclists’ Alliance has been filling that gap. Judith van Maanen, TCA’s legal counsel, emphasised the importance of professional support: “A contract doesn’t just define your income – it defines your rights, your safety, and your future. TCA provides guidance and advice to riders from all levels and disciplines, including identifying unusual clauses, advising on reasonable salary ranges, explaining key terms and consequences, and advising on key questions to ask.”
Safety and workplace conditions
The survey shows that safety and welfare continue to be pressing issues. Fourteen per cent of respondents cited neglected well-being in their team environment, 12% pointed to unfair selection practices, and others reported bullying, verbal abuse, pressure to race when unwell, and abuse of authority.
Managing Director Deena Blacking addressed the problem directly: “Standards for health and safety in women’s cycling are not at the level they should be. Although cycling is mythologised as a sport of suffering, this doesn’t justify a disregard for health and safety. When you turn up to work, you should be met with fairness, respect, and a sense of safety. These aren’t privileges, they are fundamental rights, whether you’re on a bike or in an office. Suffering to win is one thing. Suffering because it’s unsafe is another.”
Advocacy priorities for 2025
Asked to identify their top advocacy issues, riders placed three demands at the top. The first is stronger race safety protocols to reduce the risks posed by inadequate course management. The second is extending the minimum salary requirement to all professional riders, not just those in WorldTour or ProTeams. The third is better broadcasting of women’s racing, both to build audiences and to grow the commercial viability of the sport.
Ally Wollaston of FDJ-Suez described the urgency of addressing race safety: “Danger will always be a part of the equation. Rider safety can never be guaranteed, but it can be prioritised. The reality is, neglecting road safety is not just gambling with the riders’ careers; it’s gambling with their lives. I have been involved in races where riders have crashed into motorbikes, cars have ended up on the course, no warnings given for traffic islands and road furniture, and speed bumps in sprint finishes. If we want longevity in the sport, road safety needs to be a non-negotiable priority at every race.”
Why riders leave the sport early
The survey again underlines how precarious conditions force riders to consider quitting earlier than they would otherwise choose. The reasons vary by level. WorldTour riders point to dangerous racing conditions as their biggest concern, ProTeam riders are most affected by mental health struggles and burnout, while Continental riders overwhelmingly cite financial reasons. More than half of riders in their first one to two years as professionals already say they are considering leaving because of money worries, highlighting how fragile the entry point into the sport still is.
Photo Credit: GettyThe Cyclists’ Alliance’s role
The survey also highlights the work of The Cyclists’ Alliance itself in addressing these gaps. More than 100 riders sought legal advice from the organisation in 2025, and 33 took part in the TCAMP mentor programme, which helps athletes adjust to the demands of life on and off the bike. Riders consistently identify legal advice, contract reviews, and salary guidance as the most valued services.
For riders such as Emily Watts, the mentorship scheme has been a vital resource. “Last year, The Cyclists’ Alliance Mentor Programme was an incredible source of guidance and support for me. As it was my first full year living overseas, they helped me navigate the challenges and stresses that came with adapting to a new environment and the demands of the season. Their advice, encouragement, and willingness to listen made a huge difference during the harder moments, and their consistent support throughout the year was truly invaluable.”
