The drivers of the top teams can now make a living from their sport, but that’s not the case everywhere. The rules of the world sports association UCI do not apply to everyone.
The mood before the start was great. While the technicians desperately tried to park the team cars in the narrow road to Collonges-La-Rouge, the rest of the team didn’t lose their good spirits.
After all, the Tour de France Femmes for the German Continental Team Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling has been going as planned so far. France’s talent Cédrine Kerbaol has been wearing the jersey of the best young rider since the start of the tour, and Marta Lach was also named the most active rider of the first stage on Sunday.
“We’re more of the underdogs”
“We will fight day after day so that Cédrine still wears the white jersey in Pau at the end”, said sports director Dirk Baldinger in an interview with the sports show. His team looked at it a little, he says with a grin, because Kerbaol have already shown promising performances this season. Before the Grand Depart in Clermont-Ferrand, Baldinger was already aware that the Kempten-based team was not concerned with the overall standings.
The top places would be made up by other teams. “We’re more of the underdogs. A good placement here and there or the podium would be ideal.” But as a smaller team, it’s also about drawing attention to yourself at the Tour de France Femmes.
Cédrine Kerbaol from Cetratizit WNT wears the jersey of the best young rider of the Tour de France Femmes
Continental teams must hope for an invitation
Because Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling, for which Olympic track cycling champion Lisa Brennauer also rode until last season, is one of seven Continental teams taking part in the Tour de France Femmes. While the 15 first-class World Teams and the top two Continental teams are automatically eligible for the race, the remaining second-class teams must hope for an invitation. However, the latter did not apply to Baldinger, because with eleventh place, Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling is currently the second best Continental team in the world rankings.
It was not until 2020 that the UCI, the world cycling association, introduced the two-tier system of world and continental teams, as has long been the case for men. This was accompanied by strict licensing requirements. In order to be allowed to participate in the UCI Women’s WorldTour as a WorldTeam, the teams must now meet a number of conditions, which primarily affect the training and living conditions of the riders. The most important step is the payment of a minimum salary. In addition, there are vacation and sick pay as well as continued salary payments during maternity leave.
Minimum salary scheme does not apply to everyone
Above all, paying a minimum salary is a big step towards equality between women and men in cycling. The UCI increased the amount again last year – this season employed drivers will receive at least 32,102 euros, self-employed drivers 52,647 euros. By 2025, this should increase to 38,000 euros or 62,320 euros. But these rules do not apply to Continental teams.
And so, according to a survey by the union “The Cyclist Alliance”, not all riders can make a living from their sport. Only 15 percent of female riders outside of the World Teams earn more than 20,000 euros a year. “We are seeing the gap between the World and Continental teams continue to widen. The UCI has put its focus on the World Teams, now it’s time to focus on the smaller teams.”, so Iris Slappendel, co-founder of “The Cyclist Alliance”, compared to the sports show. Because in these teams there are mostly young drivers who could be lost to the sport.
Is everything evolving too fast?
Slappendel is not even necessarily concerned with a minimum salary, but with better working conditions such as insurance and holiday entitlement. A minimum salary is already paid at Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling – that was important for Dirk Baldinger to mention. However, not every Continental team can afford that. “From 20th place in the world rankings there is a big difference. Then it becomes a pure question of budget. They only have up to 500,000 euros at their disposal, while our budget and that of the world teams is around 1.5 million euros.”, says Baldinger. It is therefore a matter of course for him that he pays his drivers. He also wants to start the next season as a World Team, which is why he is already voluntarily following the rules of the UCI. This year, Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling failed because of the world rankings.
But you also have to find a good sponsor who will support the rapid development of women’s cycling financially. Because the UCI issues new rules every season that are challenging for all teams. The question arises whether the UCI is pushing too hard. “As a team, we’re just chasing and trying to close the gap between what we’re currently doing and what’s been given. But we’re playing the game too, so you can’t whine about it.”according to Baldinger.
The foundation of the sport
Slappendel doesn’t want to whine either, because in her opinion, women’s cycling has lived in the shadows for long enough. “Women’s sport in general is currently having momentum. On the one hand, it can’t go fast enough, on the other hand you should now concentrate on other things. And that doesn’t include prize money and minimum salary, but just the level below the top, namely the Continental teams.”
Because these are the foundation of the sport. Cédrine Kerbaol, who will also be the best young driver tomorrow, would definitely sign that.