UCI president David Lappartient floats idea of introducing team budget caps
The Frenchman said a budget cap would "naturally have the strong riders better divided among various teams"

UCI president David Lappartient has said he wants to introduce budget caps for big teams like Team Sky.
The Frenchman gave no indication of when he would like to push through the budget limits on the WorldTour teams, but says that some cap or ceiling needs to be established to avoid races being "blocked" by strong teams.
>>> Human rights groups call for Giro d’Italia Israel start to be cancelled
"Let me first say this: I am against a salary cap for the riders, cyclists can earn as much as they want and teams have to pay as much for a rider as they want," Lappartient told Belgium's Sporza television.
"What I am talking about is introducing a ceiling for the team's budget in general, which means that if you pay a certain rider a high wage, you will have less money left for other riders. That means you would naturally have the strong riders better divided among various teams."
Lappartient took the office from Brian Cookson after winning the four-year term this September. He campaigned on preventing motorised cheating in the professional peloton.
He touches on a topic that other have brought up several times, often referring to team Sky with stars such as Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Mikel Landa, who will leave to lead Movistar in 2018.
"What everyone wants is that races are attractive," Lappartient added. "People want to see open races instead of races that are completely blocked by a team with the best riders."
Cannondale-Drapac's fight this summer simply to find $16 million (£12.0m) in funding for 2018 highlighted the issue. On the other end of the spectrum, Sky dominates the budget game, running off £31.0 in 2016.
"The haves and haves not have grown even further," former HTC-Highroad owner Bob Stapleton told Cycling Weekly.
The American ran the successful HTC-Highroad team with Mark Cavendish and many other stars until unable to find sponsors to continue the team for 2012. He now sits on the UCI's management committee.
"You have a small group of wealth and teams who are dominating the sport and turnover in the mid- to lower-level teams that don't have the money.
"I do think we need to level the playing field in terms of what it takes to be a competitive team. Even Alberto Contador said that budget caps and salary caps could make sense."
Chris Froome's salary is unknown, but estimates have it around £4 million. Sky's other stars have multi-million contracts as well.
"It is in some ways 'unfair' the support we have in general at Team Sky compared to some teams, but if you take some of that away then what do you have teams striving for?" Froome said in defence this summer.
"Why do you try to work harder to get bigger sponsors and more backing to win more races? If you take that away then we are almost becoming communist. Aren't we?"
In comparison to Sky's top budget, French WorldTour team FDJ ran off of €10 million in 2016, AG2R with Romain Bardet €12 million and Trek-Segafredo also with €12 million.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Your Apple Watch is about to become a truly viable cycling smartwatch
The US tech giant is boasting connectivity to peripherals such as power meters in its new Watch OS 10
By Joe Baker • Published
-
You could own a Giro edition EF Education-EasyPost Pro Cycling team bike
Bicycle manufacturer Cannondale has partnered with the Los Angeles Bike Academy to raffle off Jonathan Caicedo's race bike from the 2021 Giro d'Italia.
By Henry Lord • Published
-
UCI launches investigation into massive men's Tour of Flanders pileup
World governing body also investigating road-blocking team tactics used by DSM in the race as well as by Trek-Segafredo at Dwars door Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Lefevere suggests UCI is 'short of cash' after fining Alaphilippe
Soudal Quick-Step rails against the ruling body after his French team leader is penalised for removing his helmet while racing
By Peter Cossins • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘Current WorldTour system is killing all the smaller teams,’ says Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
South African ex-Lotto Soudal rider fears more teams could find themselves in B & B Hotels-KTM situation if the system doesn’t change
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
As Cristiano Ronaldo puts the boot in, Jumbo-Visma talk to Manchester United about tactics and managing egos
The Dutch team’s senior sports director has spoken to Manchester United’s manager for sporting advice
By Owen Rogers • Last updated
-
'It's a really absurd way of racing' - EF boss Jonathan Vaughters on WorldTour relegation scrap
EF Education-EasyPost manager says he hated racing for UCI points
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Lava in the metaverse - Five things we want to see from a virtual Track Champions League
The competition is becoming more and more immersive, so here are a few suggestions
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Tailwind heaven: Moroccan one-day race tops 56km/h average speed
Strong Saharan winds propel riders at Grand Prix Sakia El Hamra
By Tom Davidson • Published