Women’s cycling has experienced spectacular growth, especially in recent years. The women’s races are booming, but there is a downside. While the top level is expanding, more and more teams at a lower level are disappearing. For Natascha Knaven-Den Ouden, this is a reason to raise the alarm.
The former Dutch cyclist—who has been focused on talent development for years as the founder of NXTG Racing—is concerned about the future of women’s cycling. In an Instagram post, she points to what she believes is the sport’s weak spot. “The UCI has decided that Conti teams will no longer be allowed to participate in WorldTour races from 2026 onwards. On paper, that makes sense.”
“To make women’s cycling credible and professional, you have to draw a line somewhere. The neighborhood girl can’t just reach the top through a small team. And yes, I applaud the push for professionalization, but the pace is way too fast. The focus is only on the top: the WorldTour, the big races, the Tour de France,” she argues.
Copycat behavior
“Sponsors of smaller teams keep asking: ‘Are you participating in the Tour?’ If not, the exposure (from their perspective) is minimal, and long-term funding becomes nearly impossible. For continental teams, that means shrinking budgets, fewer race days, and less development for young riders.”
“Meanwhile, the hype is about equality, but professionalization isn’t about copying the men’s peloton; it’s about equality,” she continues. “This is how you create the right conditions for growth. Without financial independence and investment in the grassroots—the .1 and .2 races, the talent pipeline—the top dries up and the WorldTour cannot sustain itself.”
'In ten years, you won’t have any successors left'
“It’s like a company deciding to cut back on education and training. It might work today, but in ten years you will have no successors left. The same risk exists now in women’s cycling. In men’s cycling, it took 25 years to build a stable and sustainable system; in women’s cycling, they’re trying to do this in five years. That imbalance is dangerous.
“Professionalize, yes. But not hastily. Invest in the grassroots, increase sponsor awareness, and prioritize financial independence. Only then can the sport grow sustainably,” she concludes her argument.
