Pro Cycling’s Contract Dilemma – Can the UCI maintain stability without breaking EU law?

In the height of summer, pro cyclists sweeping through the most stunning switchbacks of the most scenic mountains in the world foster an image of a dream rather than a job. Beyond the idyllic climes and days spent pedalling, pro cycling has also become exceptionally lucrative with many riders commanding eye-watering seven-figure salaries. But there are drawbacks beyond the souffrance and the pressure, and beneath the surface reveals an occupation with employment restrictions, complications and uncertainties just like any other.

Those pressures are currently mounting as the financial and political world around cyclists has evolved. Contracts have become longer, athletes have been signed younger, and the UCI has introduced new regulations and rules, all while the wider world of sports contracts has been picked apart by high-profile litigation.