'What struck me is not how much cycling has changed, but how much hasn’t' – Evolve professional cycling now, or it will wither, UCI warned by Rapha CEO

Rapha CEO Simon Mottram has delivered a stark warning to the UCI, responding to their February request for advice on modernising professional cycling. Mottram’s critique, published in *Cycling Weekly*, argues that the sport’s fundamental structures remain largely unchanged despite superficial advancements, and that failure to evolve risks its eventual decline. While specific policy recommendations weren't detailed, the overarching message was a direct challenge to the UCI's current governance and vision.

This intervention is significant given Rapha’s deep financial and cultural investment in the sport, notably as a long-standing sponsor of EF Education-EasyPost and a brand built on cycling’s aesthetic and narrative. Mottram's perspective carries weight, reflecting a growing sentiment among industry stakeholders that cycling, particularly at the professional level, is failing to capitalise on its global potential due to an antiquated model. His "no sugar coating" approach highlights the frustration with the slow pace of change, echoing previous calls for greater commercialisation and fan engagement.

Mottram’s message is less a revelation and more a well-articulated echo of what many have quietly observed for years. The UCI now has its marching orders, whether it chooses to acknowledge them or simply continue polishing the brass on a sinking ship.