Why pro riders including Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas are protesting against their union

You might have seen the pros discussing the CPA online – but what’s the story?

Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome on stage 16 of the 2018 Tour de France

(Image credit: Yuzuru Sunada)

A protest has been brewing in the professional peloton. Riders from across the cycling world have been speaking out, some with unexpected fervour.

The reason for the discontent in the pro ranks boils down to an impending election - a vote that all riders are welcome to take part in, in theory.

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Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.