Cycling fans want an end to domination of richest teams like Ineos, UCI survey finds

The UCI published the findings of its research into the appeal of road cycling on Wednesday

Cycling fans want an end to the dominance of the richest teams like Team Ineos (formerly Team Sky) at the top of the sport, according to an in-depth survey carried out by world cycling’s governing body, the UCI.

The UCI published the findings of its research into the appeal of road cycling on Wednesday, which asked more than 22,000 fans from 134 countries for their opinions on the sport, with a particular focus on stage racing and grand tours like the Tour de France.

More than three-quarters of respondents said differences in budgets has an impact on the appeal of road cycling, and 62% said a limited number of teams hiring the best riders makes racing too predictable.

The Tour de France in July was dominated primarily by four teams – Quick-Step Deceuninck, Jumbo-Visma, Mitchelton-Scott and Team Ineos – with Sky’s new incarnation winning their seventh yellow jersey in the past eight years. Ineos are believed to have the biggest budget of any WorldTour team at more than £30m per year.

The survey also suggested fans would like riders to have fewer technical advantages like power meters and radio communication with their team directors. Instead fans would prefer that information to be available to viewers watching on television.

Fans also answered in favour of smaller team sizes at Grand Tours – something which would also limit the domination of teams like Ineos and make racing more unpredictable. While 31% wanted to keep teams at the current figure of eight riders, and 22% wanted more than eight, 35% called for fewer riders per team.

One of the more interesting findings concerned the preferred types of race: fans enjoyed watching hilly profiles most of all, and found flat bunch-sprint days the least entertaining. That result would appear to align with the recent Tour de France in which more category two and three climbs helped to create a thrilling opening two weeks.

The consultation was part of a plan by the UCI president David Lappartient to improve the spectacle of the sport, after criticism had built up in recent years over the predictability of racing, particularly through the height of Team Sky’s years of dominance.

The UCI will go away and consider the findings as it aims to grow its fanbase, with a particular focus on the younger generation.