"We need to think about budget disparity" - Fabian Cancellara hopes UCI can take inspiration from F1's Concorde Agreement
Cycling
Tudor Pro Cycling are one step closer to their goal of securing a WorldTour license for the 2029 season after they concluded this year as 17th team in the annual UCI ranking. For next season, the team once again appears to have grown stronger with the additions of Kaden Groves and Arnaud de Lie but whether that will translate into results remains to be seen.
And yet, the team owner Fabian Cancellara cannot be too happy about his team's situation as he admits that its growth is being capped by a reported budget of €22 million, roughly a half of what super-teams such as UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek operate with.
Those are teams Tudor will find itself competing against if they are to succeed in its task of WorldTour promotion. Not quite feasible in the long run, is it...
That is why Cancellara is in favour of some kind of budget cap or new financial regulation for pro cycling. It's not a ground-breaking thought excercise, the UCI is also actively looking into possibilities of creating a more level playing field, and improving the sport's sustainability in a period of many mid-tier teams closing down precisely due to financial reasons.
UCI President David Lapparitent is expected to reveal more at the annual UCI Seminar in Benidorm on December 9-10.
Arnaud de Lie is Tudor Pro Cycling's star acquisition ahead of 2027
"I'll be in Benidorm for the UCI congress this year. I'm curious to listen to what is said. We, by that I mean everyone in cycling, needs to think about this," Cancellara told Domestique.
"We need to think about it because otherwise the stretch (between teams) will become too big. The big teams are getting stronger and the others are struggling and so then we'll have fewer teams. That will not help anybody."
An idea taken from F1
Several collective sports have already adapted different variants of salary cap. In the basketball NBA, all teams have roughly $165 to 200 million available to spend on player salaries and the revenue generated by sport is (more or less) even split between teams.
Another example, one that is closer to the heart of Fabian Cancellara is that employed in Formula 1 where resources available for technical advance can be the difference between a top-team and mediocrity. But thanks to the 'Concorde Agreement', the market is somewhat regulated.
"Cycling should have a Concorde Agreement like in Formula 1," he said. "Everyone can have their ego, that's alright. But we need some common sense for the sport. If not, then you just destroy yourself. That's just the reality."
Read also
What is the Concorde Agreement?
The Concorde Agreement is the contract that governs the relationship between Formula 1, the FIA, and the F1 teams.
The agreement establishes the framework under which teams enter and compete in the Formula 1 World Championship. It helps provide stability because teams, investors, sponsors and manufacturers can plan around a defined period of participation.
It determines how money is distributed; a portion of the revenue (TV and broadcasting deals, race-hosting fees paid by circuits or promoters, sponsorships and commercial partnerships, other commercial activities) is distributed to participating teams according to agreed financial arrangements.
The agreement also establishes governance arrangements, including how certain decisions involving the FIA, F1 and teams are discussed and voted on. For example, teams have a say in important championship matters, but they don't individually control the FIA or Formula 1.
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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