Who would've believed that ? Long criticized for its habit of leaving women on the side of the road, cycling is changing culture. Gender parity is now given high priority.
Latest illustration: the International Cycling Union (UCI) obtaining the EDGE label, the international reference standard for the certification of organizations in terms of professional equality between men and women. Strong.
Better: the UCI poses as a model in the Olympic movement. It is the first international sports federation to undertake this approach, and above all the first to obtain this level of recognition.
Behind the texts and intentions, where is the feminization of cycling, its organization and its practice today? Amina Lanaya, the general director of the UCI (photo below), answered questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : What does the EDGE label represent for the UCI?
Amina Lanaya : EDGE certification recognizes our commitment, in the area of our internal governance, to gender parity in the workplace. The UCI was interviewed last September by an independent certification body, FLOCert, on the basis of statistical data, our regulations and the responses of our employees to a questionnaire on the subject. At the end of this process, we obtained the first level of EDGE certification. We have given ourselves until 2021 to reach the second level. This will involve putting into practice policies in favor of flexibility, equal pay, the prevention of abuse and the promotion of diversity. Being the first woman in the general management of the UCI in the 120-year history of the federation, I make this theme and the commitment of our organization to achieve concrete results in the next two years a priority.
The UCI is the first international federation to obtain such recognition. How important is this status to you?
Level 1 has been achieved by only 200 organizations worldwide. The UCI strategic roadmap, Agenda 2022, in line with the IOC program, emphasizes our commitment to promoting the involvement of women in cycling (sport and governance), equal opportunities, parity in the workplace, and to fight against all forms of discrimination. Since 2019, a charter takes up the axes of our policy in favor of equality between women and men in the administration of the UCI. But we also want to extend this policy to all cycling authorities. We have amended our statutes to set requirements for the minimum representation of each gender within the governing bodies of the UCI, continental confederations and national federations.
In fact, what is the reality of equality between men and women in cycling today?
It plays out on several tables. First of all, sporty. THE prize money respects gender equality at world championships and in the general rankings of World Cups. At the Olympic Games, participation quotas are equal for three of our five disciplines: mountain biking, BMX racing and BMX freestyle. We are currently in discussions with the IOC to achieve full parity at the Paris 2024 Games. We have also taken significant steps in women's professional road cycling, with the introduction of a minimum salary. Since 2018, the protocol ceremonies have also reflected this concern for a balanced and respectful representation of hosts and hostesses. Finally, we have strengthened the protection of runners with new provisions provided for in our code of ethics.
Despite everything, women's cycling still suffers from much less media coverage than men's...
Women's cycling has become very attractive. At the last World Road Races, audiences for the elite women's road race were close to those for the men's event. Same thing in mountain biking and cyclo-cross. In terms of retransmission, we are also making progress. In 2018, the UCI Women’s World Tour attracted 147 million viewers for 1.430 hours of broadcast. In 2020, we are going even further, with a minimum of 45 minutes of broadcasting for all events in the series. Finally, you should know that the most popular cycling athlete on social networks is a woman, the Colombian Mariana Pajón, double Olympic BMX champion. There is still work to do, but we are moving in the right direction to give women's cycling the visibility it deserves.
