The Outer Line

Televised bike racing has been static for the last 50 years — what can be done to change it up and make race coverage more engaging?

Leading cardiologist suggests that the risks to himself and others in the peloton could spell the end of the Italian star's racing career.

Each team that receives a WorldTour license in 2023 ensures its future for at least three years.

A look at UCI WorldTour team wins — and trends — from 2012 through 2021.

Could pro cycling take lessons from pro triathlon?

Newly appointed USA Cycling chairman Brendan Quirk discusses the challenges and opportunities facing USA Cycling and how to grow cycling in the United States.

As a final deadline draws near, The Outer Line talked to embattled Team Qhubeka-NextHash principal Doug Ryder about the team’s prospects and survival.

If the UCI decides this week to award the 2025 World Championships to Rwanda, will it constitute a bold step forward in cycling’s internationalization, finally putting sub-Saharan Africa squarely in the sport’s limelight, or will it be a turn towards sportswashing?

The Riders Union is stepping up its campaign to more actively represent the interests of the professional peloton, challenging the legal standing of the CPA and its claim that it automatically represents all the athletes. The UCI will have some decisions to make.

The Outer Line digs into the question: Is money the primary key to competitive success in cycling? If so, should we be trying to ensure a more level playing field?

Athletes from many different sports have taken a stand this past year to protest the state of racial equality and justice in this country. Dave Zirin’s new book chronicles the origins and range of these protests – at the high-school, college, and professional level. Pro cycling and most elite endurance sports are largely out of the loop.

More young riders are foregoing the traditional late-spring, weeklong races to prepare for the Tour de France in favor of dedicated altitude training. Those legacy races may gradually become less relevant and need to reinvent themselves or reschedule their place in the calendar.

The American riders have been chosen for next month’s Olympic Games. Here, we look at the process, analyze the inevitable disappointments and ask the ultimate question: Did we choose the best athletes to win medals in Tokyo?

USA Cycling has announced a new initiative – the “Let’s Ride” campaign to get more kids — from all walks of life — onto bikes.

The Outer Line chats with retired pro cyclist Christian Vande Velde.

We examine the recommendations for athletes who have suffered from COVID-19, as well as the best practices for avoiding spreading the virus.

The Outer Line examines options for making the KOM contest more exciting.

The Outer Line chats with retired pro cyclist Tom Danielson

After a year of living with COVID and the effects of the global pandemic, we have better insight into the razor-thin economics of even pro cycling’s biggest events, and what the sport should do to mitigate these risks and strengthen its future.

The Riders Union, which initiated a breakaway athlete union effort a few months ago, is ready to formally kickoff.