That sequence matters more than the 54 proposals the UCI collected by its deadline. Lappartient rejected One Cycling after 11 WorldTour teams and organisers like Flanders Classics and RCS Sport had already committed to it, threatening licences for anyone who pushed ahead — then pivoted to courting the money behind it directly. Fran Millar's read is blunter: «I returned to find the debate had gone backwards, and that is deeply depressing.» This isn't governance catching up with the sport; it's the governing body making sure any deal that happens, happens through it.