Le Tour de France Femmes carries the same name, the same sponsors, and races the same iconic mountains as the men's Tour de France. What it doesn't carry is the same structure - because the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)'s own rules don't allow it to.

This isn't an accident, and it isn't down to individual race organisers. It's a structural choice, written into UCI regulation.

In February 2026, UCI President David Lappartient wrote to cycling's stakeholders inviting proposals to reform the sport's economic model — but the official list stopped at the AIOCC (race organisers), AIGCP (teams), CPA (riders' union) and individual riders. 

This petition adds a voice the letter didn't ask for: the fans, viewers and supporters who make the sport worth reforming in the first place.

Women's professional cycling needs the opportunity, and it's within the UCI's power to grant it.

Same representation. The UCI's Professional Cycling Council (the UCI's main decision-making body for professional road cycling) has 18 positions. Six of those, including the President, are nominated directly by the UCI. Currently, five of the six UCI-nominated seats are held by men. Elected representative groups on the PCC are already required to include women. The UCI-nominated seats aren't held to the same standard. Check out the PCC Terms of Reference.

We're calling on the UCI to apply the same representation requirements to nominated Professional Cycling Council positions that already apply to the representative groups.

Same limits. UCI Regulation 2.6.008, pages 64–65   the maximum max distance per stage cap for women  is 160km which is shorter than the men's (240km).  Races like the Tour de France Femmes need special waivers each year to race longer distances. That cap is a rule, women can (and do) ride more. 

We're calling on the UCI to raise maximum max distance per stage cap to be the same as the men's, so women's racing isn't limited by design.

Same opportunity. The men's Tour de France holds "Grand Tour" status, which is granted at the UCI's discretion and must have 15–23 stages. No women's stage race currently does — because the UCI has never created the category.  Women can race more, and they have. In 1984 they raced 18 stages.

We're calling on the UCI to establish a Women's Grand Tour classification with the same stage limits as the men, so Le Tour de France Femmes has the chance to become what its name already claims.

Same benefits. Male riders on WorldTeams and ProTeams are covered by a Joint Agreement (men only) between the riders' union (CPA) and the teams' association (Association International des Groupes Cyclistes Professionels i.e the AIGCP), guaranteeing minimum standards for wages and insurance. Women have no equivalent agreement. They have been talking about one for women since 2023.

We're calling on the AIGCP and CPA to establish a Joint Agreement for women, not just talk about it.

Same reward. Once the structure changes, the reward should change with it.

The gap isn't about what women can do. It's about what the rules currently allow. 

The UCI built this structure. The UCI has a choice to make change. We want them to make the right decisions.

Learn more about the evidence behind this campaign at samepodium.org  where you can also sign up to join the movement.