In the continued journey to modernise the sport of cycling, a new competition framework has been released, following a period of consultation with a variety of key stakeholders across the cycling community.
Read the "Winning Together: Building a Competition Framework for the Future”.
Following the feedback from a survey shared back in August and as the result of months of consultation with riders, clubs, volunteers, fans and the wider cycling community, a dedicated project team at British Cycling has created a competition framework for the future, bringing a simpler, more fun and effective competition structure by 2029, that is standardised across all disciplines.
The key outcomes from the project are to:
Put riders at the heart of all British Cycling’s competitive events which will help people have great experiences.
Simplify competition by ensuring greater consistency across all governed disciplines, which will help to attract new people into our clubs and events.
Support new and existing event organisers by making competitions and events more efficient to deliver
Create a sustainable financial future for our sport through smarter, and innovative ways of working.
From the first wave of consultation, our research showed that currently, only 1 in 5 competitive events cater for newcomers to the sport, and 67% of people responded saying they want an easier way to find events that are suitable for their age and ability - a key consideration in the proposed framework.
Notably, 61% of people are seeking a fun and welcoming environment at competitive cycling events.
The new framework will structure the sport into five clear and easy to understand levels:
Discover – A great introduction for newcomers to competition, delivered in a safe, welcoming, and accessible way. These coach-supported events will build learning and excitement while removing barriers to entry.
Engage – Grassroots, club, and local-level events, focused on fun competition and supported by a welcoming community.
Challenge – Regular competition for developing riders, offering meaningful, discipline-specific opportunities for personal achievement and goals.
Advance – A proving ground for experienced competitors aiming for the top, with a strong focus on technical standards, and progression.
Elite – The pinnacle of domestic cycling, showcasing excellence and inspiring others while setting the highest standards of performance & event delivery.
Over the next 14 months, working with the community, the project team will co-design and deliver these changes, which will ride in tandem with the ongoing digital transformation programme. For a more detailed breakdown of the roadmap ahead, please read more in the document.
Amy Gardner, Sport and Participation Director at British Cycling said:
“This project comes at a pivotal moment in the evolution of our sport as we undertake a bold and comprehensive transformation of our competition framework, so it reflects the needs of riders, coaches, volunteers and communities across the country."
“It will play a vital role in delivering British Cycling’s strategic priorities to support and grow the sport, and the framework sets out our vision for a modern, inclusive and high-quality competition structure that will shape the future of competitive cycling in Britain.”
British Cycling are calling the cycling community and beyond, if you’d like to help shape this project as it moves forward, focus groups and work sessions kick off in Spring 2026. This is your opportunity to influence what comes next. Register your interest in these today, HERE.
