Retired Olympic champion Grace Brown sees "the perfect opportunity to continue to have a positive impact" as president of TCA, women Cyclist's Alliance
Cycling
Grace Brown completed a dream 2024 season. In her last year as a professional, the Australian established herself as the best time trialist on the planet. She finished with the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, won the rainbow jersey at the Zurich World Championships and won the Chrono des Nations.
After hanging up her bike, the 32-year-old is already working on her future. She is still involved in cycling and has become the president of the TCA (Cyclists' Alliance). For those who don't know what it's all about, it's the union that represents professional cyclists at UCI Women's World Tour events.
"TCA's mission is deeply aligned with my vision and passion for cycling, women's sports and gender equity. The role of president was the perfect opportunity to continue to have a positive impact on women's professional cycling, despite my retirement from racing," she said.
"I had a relatively short career in professional cycling, but in that time I witnessed major changes in the sport. The most tangible change has been the pay for female cyclists, which has more than quadrupled for high-value riders in the last five years," Brown commented.
"We are also seeing teams with greater resources across the board. One of the best changes has been the increased broadcasting of women's racing, which in turn has brought more fans to our sport."
"Despite the positive growth in the sport, there are still areas that are lagging behind. We are especially aware that growth at the top doesn't always translate downward," Brown noted.
"With the level of the women's peloton increasing every year, the dangers of the sport are becoming more apparent. This is something that all cycling stakeholders, including cyclists, must work together to improve."
"It is also crucial that women cyclists recognize that, while the top level of the sport has seen a great improvement in their conditions, this is not universal. We need to continue to advocate for the conditions of women cyclists at the continental level, as well as those competing in disciplines other than road," Brown concluded.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- wtf dudemij07-11-2026
- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
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MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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