Richard Plugge: "There will come a moment when even the Tour cannot go from A to B over 200 kilometers anymore"

Visma | Lease a Bike team boss Richard Plugge, during the BV Sport broadcast on AllSportsRadio, expanded on the ONE Cycling project, of which the Dutchman is a major figure. Plugge explained why he believes change is necessary and provided an update on the current status of the project.

"We need to consider where cycling will be in 10 years and how we can improve the sport and its business model," Plugge stated, emphasizing the importance of collaboration within cycling. "With ONE Cycling, we aim to involve everyone, including the Tour, other teams, and the UCI – everyone. Cycling has much greater potential beyond the current financial scope. This applies not only to me but also to organizers and other teams. This isn't about creating a Super League; it's about working together. UCI President David Lappartient supports this vision; he too wants to leave cycling in a better state when he steps down."

Regarding the current status of the project, Plugge mentioned, "We are exploring this with organizers and the UCI. However, politically, things have been quiet. We've had extensive discussions, but progress has stalled, which is frustrating. As for investors, there is interest from various parties, not just from Saudi Arabia," Plugge clarified, addressing persistent rumors regarding the involvement of a Saudi Arabian investment fund.

Regarding the current status of the project, Plugge mentioned, "We are exploring this with organizers and the UCI. However, politically, things have been quiet. We've had extensive discussions, but progress has stalled, which is frustrating. As for investors, there is interest from various parties, not just from Saudi Arabia," Plugge clarified, addressing persistent rumors regarding the involvement of a Saudi Arabian investment fund.

Plugge names benefits of new way of thinking in cycling

Plugge addresses the logistical aspect, stating, "Organizing a competition is becoming increasingly complex, and we must acknowledge and address this collectively. Teams rely on races, and races depend on teams. Logistically, it's getting tougher. Why not consider circuit races? There will come a time when even the Tour cannot cover 200 kilometers from point A to B, and opting for circuit races may become necessary. Currently, we navigate through villages at 60 kilometers per hour, when the speed limit is 30 kilometers per hour."

He further adds, "The Tour of Flanders has implemented this successfully, and the World Cup is another example," referring to the circuits in the final stages of those races. "This approach also generates revenue, as it allows for greater entertainment value for the audience and opportunities to sell hospitality packages. By doing so, we can maintain interest for future generations, especially considering the stiff competition from other sports for the younger demographic. This strategy enables us to extract more value from cycling than what currently exists."