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Three in four Continental women get no salary, TCA survey finds
The Cyclists' Alliance's 2026 survey of 127 riders found that 75% of the 52 Continental respondents receive no salary from their team. Among WorldTeam respondents, 90% have contracts of two years or longer, and 79% of Continental respondents have one-year deals. The women's peloton is split by tier, and the TCA's asks to the UCI read as a minimum standard for the lower one.
What this means
The TCA is seeking direct representation in the UCI stakeholder discussions on the future of professional road cycling on 9–10 December 2026. It also asks the UCI to publish full findings and its injury study methodology on the higher crash incidence and more severe injury outcomes observed among women in monitored WorldTour events.
Money is the dividing line. 73% of Continental-level riders cited financial pressure as the main factor in considering quitting the sport. Only 17% of Continental respondents have regular medical screening, against 90% of WorldTeam respondents. On nutrition and RED-S education the gap is 71% at WorldTeam level versus 21% at Continental level. The TCA asked the UCI to revise and strengthen its model contract so riders' "essential racing costs" are covered, and to verify that teams can meet their commitments. It also asked for RED-S screening within mandatory medical monitoring, with bone-health assessment, and for stricter checks on staff qualifications and safeguarding credentials. Judith van Maanen put it this way: «A contract is about more than salary. Riders need to know what protection they have, and where the gaps are; if they face injury, pregnancy, illness or a change in their team's plans.»
Sources
'A contract is about more than salary' - The Cyclists' Alliance 2026 rider survey finds financial insecurity, health and safety issues among the main concerns of the women's pelotonTCA report exposes gaps in pay, care and working conditions across women’s professional cyclingThe Cyclists’ Alliance welcomes UCI reform direction and seeks direct role for female riders - endurance.biz
Analysed 3 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work