"Something has to happen if cycling wants to continue to mean something globally" - Renaat Schotte understands call for 'Super League'
Cycling
If rumours are to be believed, several of the sport's top teams, including Jumbo-Visma and the INEOS Grenadiers are trying to change the sport of cycling by creating a new 'Super League'.
In his analysis for Sporza, Renaat Schotte can understand why some teams feel the need for change. "Currently, racing is something from the last century," Schotte explains. "Something has to happen if cycling wants to continue to mean something globally. Cycling must not continue to surplace or even go downhill."
Richard Plugge of Jumbo-Visma recently explained the need for change, saying; "Cycling is a sleeping giant. The sport deserves a modern business model, especially for the teams," and this something that Schotte agrees with as he cites the dwindling interest in some of the historic cycling nations.
"In Italy, cycling was sport number 2, after football. That is no longer the case," he says. "I think it is indicative of the situation in which cycling finds itself. And it is a great pity, because cycling remains a fantastic sport."
The relial on billionaire financiers is not sustainable according to the Sporza analyst. "Each and every one of them is sports or cycling enthusiasts, on which the race currently depends. But they also remain businessmen," Schotte warns. "They also want a return on investment in the long term. That is why Zdenek Bakala (Soudal - Quick-Step) is considering selling his shares."
"Something has to be done, because the businessmen are not a long-term guarantee for cycling," he concludes. "One day the day will come when all parties will be obliged to work together."
Five top cycling teams, including INEOS and Jumbo-Visma, looking to create a new cycling "Super League" #Cycling https://t.co/htKjUJCqhg
— CyclingUpToDate (@CyclingUpToDat3) October 26, 2023
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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