Newsletter 03
4 June 2024
This Newsletter includes:
PCC Meeting Focuses on Contractual Stability in Professional Cycling
WARA’s Position on UCI Transfer System Reforms - WARA ONLINE GATHERING 21 June 2024
Proposed Academic Session on Cycling’s Laws and Regulations and WARA Member Meeting
Amy Pieters vs. Team SD Worx-Protime Legal Dispute
PCC meeting focuses on contractual stability in professional cycling
The Professional Cycling Council (PCC) met in March of this year, and again on Wednesday 29 May, now including stakeholders from women's professional road cycling, following the UCI Management Committee's August 2023 decision to support the sport's development.
Key discussions included financial reforms, such as a budget cap for teams to maintain fairness and prevent budget disparities, effective with the 2026 UCI Women's WorldTour and UCI WorldTour licence renewals.
Regulatory updates focused on rider registration and transfer rules to enhance contractual stability, starting June 2024. A second division of women's professional teams, UCI Women's ProTeams, will also be introduced in 2025.
Preparations for the 2025 calendar are underway, with approval expected at the next PCC meeting. Procedures for 2026-2028 UCI WorldTour and UCI Women's WorldTour event registrations were also approved, with new regulations to be presented soon.
The PCC reviewed the 2024 registration process for UCI professional teams, presented by PwC, and highlighted progress on SafeR (SafeRoadcycling), aimed at improving competition safety.
WARA's Position on UCI Transfer System Reforms – WARA ONLINE GATHERING 21 June 2024
WARA has been contacted by the UCI to discuss proposed reforms of the transfer system. However, the capacity in which WARA is to be involved has not been clearly defined. WARA recognizes the risks of entering discussions without a formal role, which could lead to outcomes scrutinized by its members without a proper basis for response.
WARA has communicated to the UCI that, while it appreciates the opportunity for consultation, such discussions are meaningless without proper representation and a clear status. WARA is currently preparing suggestions for a formal role and is organizing internally to establish positions on relevant topics. These topics are crucial not only for cycling but also for gaining acceptance among agents.
The UCI is also considering changes to agent regulations, alongside transfer system and calendar reforms. In light of the ECJ cases of December 2023, which impact the governance autonomy of sports bodies, the UCI must include all relevant stakeholders in proper consultation to ensure legally robust decisions.
WARA is creating a discussion platform and planning a gathering in Brussels to facilitate these talks (see below in this newsletter). The UCI has been informed of WARA's approach, emphasizing the need for structured and inclusive dialogue.
In terms of discussing the impact of the transfer regulations on agents, WARA board shall send its views to the members of WARA. Consequently, WARA shall offer the opportunity to its members to participate in an important gathering, online, on 21 June 2024 from 14.00pm to 15.30pm CET. You will receive further information as well as relevant documentation 7 days prior to this meeting in order to involve and guarantee your voice and views are heard and taken into account. The board and members shall jointly decide in this gathering what stance shall be taken in relation to the transfer regulations and consultation to the UCI in general. SAVE THE DATE!
Proposed Academic Session on Cycling’s Laws and Regulations and WARA member meeting
Erasmus University Rotterdam, KU Leuven, and WARA are working on organizing a joint academic session at KU Leuven’s Brussels branch, leveraging its strategic EU location. This session aims to engage key EU Sports Unit policymakers in vital cycling industry discussions with relevant stakeholders.
The discussion, that is planned to take place in the afternoon, aims to cover topics like the UCI's transfer system and Agenda 2030 reforms. Additionally, WARA and Erasmus University will present on current cycling issues, including health and safety, featuring research by KU Leuven’s Simon Taes.
WARA members will be invited to attend in person or online, ensuring broad participation.
This collaboration hopes to unify voices, enhance visibility, and establish a leading position in cycling discussions, leveraging academic insights and proximity to policymakers and stakeholders. It is intended to promote and pursue WARA’s role as a stakeholder and advocates for the necessity to have a role for WARA in official UCI structures with a proper reflection of the voice of the agents.
Amy Pieters vs. Team SD Worx-Protime Legal Dispute
Amy Pieters, former professional cyclist, has sued her previous team, SD Worx-Protime, to recognize her contract as indefinite and as a result pay overdue wages. In December 2021, Pieters suffered a severe accident during a training camp, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and a prolonged coma. Despite extensive rehabilitation, she hasn't regained her former capabilities.
The legal dispute centers on whether her contract is permanent. A preliminary ruling from the Maastricht court determined tha the case should be settled in the Netherlands, despite the team's preference for UCI arbitration.
Pieters' lawyer argues that the law mandates an indefinite contract after three consecutive fixe- term contracts. The case's outcome could set a precedent for professional cycling contracts. The defense of Amy Pieters is carried out by BMDW, also WARA’s legal partner firm. WARA acknowledges the discussion about the need for clarity and legal certainty for cycling professional contracts; underlining it’s own responsibility for participating amongst other stakeholders.
A view on the Amy Pieters’ situation from the perspective of the potential consequences is reflected in the following article: (15) Amy Pieters' Legal Battle Could Revolutionise Athletes' Rights in Cycling | LinkedIn
