One Cycling aims to launch a GCN-inspired streaming platform

a mutual interest [in being part of it]” Van Den Spiegel said. One Cycling’s intentions to set up a media hub will not be a standalone venture – the project also has ambitions of increasing race purses as a means to attract racers. 

“One plan connected to the media rights is increasing race purses because there will be additional revenues [from media deals]. It’s not just the revenues from a TV channel – we should monetise other aspects as well,” Van Den Spiegel said. “We see a future in which there won’t be races that have a total prize money of €150,000 but have an upwards potential to €500,000 or €600,000.”.

The project still needs the buy-in from WorldTour and ProTeam squads. The One Cycling project requires the successful direction of the teams as well as the sanctioning and involvement with the UCI, but the governing body has shown its willingness to adopt some of the project’s elements.

Van Den Spiegel’s future also includes the potential for a summer calendar and, for him, a desirable autumnal season.

“The concept of a summer calendar and an autumn calendar will be key for us. It’s the concept of grouping the big races around a bigger idea and creating layout blocks throughout the season so that it makes it more understandable for the fan,” he said. “You could consider a country profile whereby the race organiser decides what races they want to link in the portfolio to generate that country profile. We also need to address the overflow of races, and that is quite logical if you want to assemble the strongest fields without having to race each weekend.”

Venture capital finance has propelled most sporting ventures, though it’s yet to be seen what the actual financial backing will be within the project. The expectations of a hugely impactful business decision – and the potential knock-on effects on the cycling calendar in a post-COVID landscape – will require thorough investigation before anything gets signed.