The UCI management committee has approved an unprecedented cost-saving plan, including pay cuts for top executives, the world governing body for cycling announced today.
The UCI management committee has approved an unprecedented cost-saving plan. Photo: Photo credits/monhov
The steps have been taken due to the disruption to cycling caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. This, says the Union Cycliste Internationale, is the biggest crisis it has faced since the Second World War, which ended in 1945.
The UCI says that in health and economic terms, where there is no clear view as to when the crisis will end, the UCI has established several scenarios regarding the impact of current events.
“Conscious that the situation is worrying and that the savings made until now have been marginal (costs linked notably to the interruption of travel of UCI international commissaires) a cost-saving plan […] was approved,” the UCI statement says.
Points in the plan include the UCI’s leaders agreeing to reduce their salaries or allowances, a full or partial furlough – by different percentages – for all 130 employees of the UCI and UCI WCC (World Cycling Centre), the freezing of recruitment for an undefined period, and a total revision of projects and objectives that had been fixed for 2020 and following years, and those in progress.
Also, there will be a resizing of solidarity projects for national federations, the general implementation of virtual meetings for the management committee, UCI commissions and seminars, as well as an examination, currently in progress, of the contracts of service providers at events, consultants and general providers.
“Our international federation is going through a crisis that we haven’t experienced since the Second World War,” said UCI president David Lappartient.
“Inactivity is hitting athletes, teams, organisers, partners and the large majority of people and organisations that contribute to the vitality of our sport, across all its disciplines. The UCI has not been spared; far from it.
“The postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the multiplication of postponements and cancellations of events on the UCI international calendar, and the uncertainty that weighs on the second part of the season are having a large impact on our sport in general and our federation in particular.”
He added that it was time for the cycling family to rally and, as one, prepare the sport to recover from the health and economic crisis that had hit it.
“Each of us is called on to be united, responsible and strong. That is why the UCI has taken some drastic action that should enable it to weather the storm. These choices are difficult but necessary if we wish to rebuild cycling post-Covid-19.”
