'We are facing a funding crisis' - women riders' union calls for help

The Cyclists' Alliance (TCA), the independent union representing professional female riders, has issued a stark warning, declaring a "funding crisis" within women's cycling. This urgent appeal, highlighted by *Cycling Weekly*, underscores the precarious financial situation many teams and athletes face, particularly outside the top-tier Women's WorldTour. The TCA is advocating for greater financial stability and a more equitable distribution of resources to prevent teams from collapsing and riders from being left without contracts.

This pronouncement arrives amidst a period of significant growth for women's cycling, with increased media coverage and the expansion of events like the Tour de France Femmes. However, the TCA's intervention reveals a persistent disparity between this public profile and the underlying economic reality. While a select few WorldTour teams benefit from substantial backing, the majority of the peloton, especially at Continental level, operates on shoestring budgets, often leaving riders underpaid or unpaid, and vulnerable to sudden team dissolutions.

Ultimately, this isn't merely a plea for charity; it's a critical call to action for the UCI and major stakeholders. Without a robust financial foundation, the sport's much-touted progress risks being built on sand, leaving its most valuable assets—the riders—to foot the bill.