Professional cycling league against commissionership: “Decision without foundation”

The League also requests that controls and procedures be activated against the Italian Cycling Federation itself, arguing that the decision to appoint a commissioner was taken beyond the competence of the Cycling Federation and after a series of initiatives defined as “repeated and specious”.

“No formal notification of the provision”

One of the central points of the dispute concerns the ways in which the League learned the news. The management claims to have not received any formal notification of the administration and that it only became aware of it through a press release.

The document released by the Federation, according to the League, does not clarify the reasons behind such a drastic decision. A lack of transparency which would currently make it impossible to respond promptly to the complaints made against the LCP.

In the note, the board also recalls that the League had expressed on several occasions its willingness to reach an agreement with the Federation on the content of the Convention, respecting the competences of the two bodies and with the aim of continuing the common work carried out in recent years.

The reference to economic and sporting results

The League claims the results obtained through its work: the birth of new races, the increase in the prestige of existing competitions and the growth in revenues for teams and organizers.

The board also recalls the budget of the League, which closed with a strong surplus, exceeding the initial forecasts and objectives. The budget, it is underlined, does not present any irregularities and has never been the subject of findings by internal or external control bodies.

On this basis, the League considers the commissionership not justified either by the management results or by the process of discussion initiated with the Federation.

Fears for the calendar and for the athletes

Particular concern is expressed about the timing of the decision, adopted a few weeks before the start of a fundamental phase of the Italian cycling calendar. The measure, according to the management, risks increasing uncertainty for organizers, sponsors, teams and athletes.

The organizers and teams have already expressed their concern about the possible consequences. In particular, the race organizers would have sent letters of support to the League in recent days, asking for the opening of a common table to overcome differences and find shared solutions.

The risk indicated by the LCP is that a decision aimed against the League could end up damaging the entire cycling movement, resulting in fewer races, lower visibility, a reduction in revenues and greater difficulties in planning sports activities.

The consequences, concludes the note, could fall above all on athletes who do not receive high salaries and for whom the Italian autumn calendar represents a fundamental showcase and an important opportunity to establish themselves. The management is therefore defined by the board as “a significant step backwards” for Italian cycling, capable of putting at risk the progress achieved in recent years.