The Cyclists' Alliance

The Cyclists' Alliance or TCA is the labor organization representing professional cyclists in UCI Women's World Tour (UCIWWT) events.[1][2][3] The organisation, which operates out of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, is led by Executive Director Iris Slappendel.[4]

TCA
Full nameThe Cyclists' Alliance
Founded2017 (2017)
AffiliationUCI
Key people
Office locationOuderkerk aan de Amstel
CountryNetherlands
Websitecyclistsalliance.org

Details

Founded in 2017,[5] TCA act as an intermediary between members and the businesses that employ them. The main purpose of the organization is to provide formal representations and give riders the power to negotiate for more favourable working conditions.[6]

In addition to conducting labor negotiations, TCA represents and protects the rights of the athletes; the organization's actions include filing grievances on behalf of athletes. The union is also negotiating for the introduction of a collective bargaining agreement as is available for male cyclists. The union will ensure these commitments are adhered to by the UCI and the teams. It negotiates and monitors retirement and insurance benefits and enhances and defends the image of athletes and their profession.

Background

Female professional athletes have been waging a battle for equality in nearly every major sport. The past few years have produced watershed wins.[7][8] In contrast, cycling had made little progress prior to 2017.[9]

The UCI's 18-member management committee includes only two women and reflects the widespread institutional sexism in cycling culture.[10][11] In February 2017, Slappendel had spoken to the men's cycling union, the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA), about ways in which they could support women's cycling. After the men's association dismissed Slappendel, asserting that CPA did not consider women to be professional, a 2017 rider survey affirmed that an association of women's professional cyclists would be an important catalyst to push women's teams, the UCI, and race organizers, to work toward greater economic and career opportunities for women. This came as no surprise to Slappendel and the labor association, The Cyclists’ Alliance, formed.[12][13]

Initial organising phase

The Cyclists' Alliance as an idea came from the recently retired Iris Slappendel following some of her own experiences as a rider and a UCI representative. The organization began when Slappendel met with two professional cyclists, Gracie Elvin of Mitchelton–Scott (women's team) and Carmen Small of Team Virtu Cycling Women, and the group surveyed 450 professional cyclists racing in UCI Women's World Tour events.[14]

Leadership

The current executive director of TCA is Iris Slappendel. As of 2018, the rider council consists of the following current athletes: Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Amanda Spratt, Leah Kirchman, Ellen van Dijk, Marianne Vos, Audrey Cordon, Christine Majerus, and Ariane Luthi (MTB).[15]

Position Name Year(s)
Executive[16]
Executive Director Iris Slappendel September, 2017 –
Vice Director Rhian Ravenscroft September, 2019 –
Communications Director Gracie Elvin (temporarily replaced TBA) September, 2017 –
Treasurer Roos Hoogeboom September, 2019 –
Rider Representative Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio September, 2019 –
Board[17]
Gender Rights Advisor Kristen Worley
Legal advisor Eric Vilé
UCI Athletes Commission Women's Road Representative Marianne Vos
Business Consultant Joe Harris
Advisor Partnerships Jack Lindsay
Sporting Union advisors Uni World Players Association
Executive Director, World Players Association. Labour & human rights lawyer Brendan Schwab
Athletes Rights advisors Eu Athletes
President of EU Athletes Yves Kummer
Advisor Governance and Strategy Andrea Marcellini
TCAMP Mentor Program Carmen Small

Notes
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    References
    1. "UCI urged to investigate 'shocking culture' of sexual harassment". The Independent. August 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    2. "The Cyclists' Alliance: Improving pay and conditions in the women's peloton". Cyclist. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    3. Frattini 2019-06-27T23:35:00Z, Kirsten. "The Cyclists' Alliance: The de facto union for women's cycling". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    4. "The Cyclists' Alliance about us". cyclistsalliance.org. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    5. "Founding The Cyclists' Alliance". www.cyclist.co.uk. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    6. "The Cyclists' Alliance objectives". www.cyclingnews.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    7. "Slappdendel and Bike Racing Gender Equality". outsideonline.com/. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
    8. "The Difference Between TCA and CPA". cyclingbrief.com/. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
    9. "The Difference Between TCA and CPA". cyclingbrief.com/. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
    10. "The Difference Between TCA and CPA". cyclingbrief.com/. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
    11. "Equality for Women in Sports". outsideonline.com/. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
    12. "The Cyclists' Alliance 2017 rider survey". cyclistsalliance.org. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    13. "The Difference Between TCA and CPA". cyclingbrief.com/. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
    14. "Slappendel, Elvin and Small launch The Cyclists' Alliance". www.cyclingnews.com/. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
    15. "The Cyclists' Alliance General Assembly outcomes". cyclistsalliance.org. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    16. "The Cyclists' Alliance General Assembly outcomes". cyclistsalliance.org. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    17. "Advisory Board". cyclistsalliance.org. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
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