Women's cycling finds itself in a life-or-death situation, as Cynisca aims for a $1 million investment to boost their ambitions and secure a prominent place in the 2026 Tour de France Femmes.
Cynisca Cycling Seeks $1 Million by August 15 for ProTeam Ambitions
Cynisca Cycling, a US-based women's Continental team with a European base in France, is seeking $1 million in sponsorship by August 15, 2025. This fundraising milestone is crucial for the team's ambitions to advance to the ProTeam level and compete at the highest levels internationally.
Currently, Cynisca Cycling has competed in WorldTour races such as the Tour of Flanders and the Amstel Gold Race. Their goal is to be in the Tour de France Femmes in 2026 and produce Olympians for LA 2028.
The August 15 deadline is the UCI's date for the first step in applying for a ProTeam license. Achieving this goal is critical for the team to step up to ProTeam status, which would allow them to gain an invitation to prestigious races like the Tour de France Femmes. This fundraising target ensures the team’s operational and competitive viability for the new season.
Cynisca Cycling has operated on a budget from private donors and industry sponsors, but relying on individual donors is not sustainable. The team has tried crowdfunding but finds it not to be a sustainable model.
With the $1 million, Cynisca plans to maintain an eight-rider feeder team at the Continental level and a 10-rider ProTeam. The team's goal is to take riders from the US, give them the full professional experience in Europe, and produce a Tour de France winner from North America.
Cynisca Cycling is a non-profit organization that performs community services like cycling clinics for children. The funds are intended to help the team step up to the ProTeam level and aim for an invitation to the Tour de France Femmes in 2026.
The team's General Manager, Robin Farina, expressed that the sport often relies on rich benefactors who may lose interest or find the sport's return on investment not so concrete. However, Cynisca Cycling is doing everything they can to keep their program going and should have a clearer picture in the next 20 days.
Sponsorship of Cynisca Cycling is tax-deductible, making it more attractive to investors. The business model of pro cycling is in a fragile state, and investors often expect positive returns. However, the reality is that no team on the planet is making a profit.
Cynisca Cycling has a cycling villa in the heart of the Pyrenees, which provides sponsors with experiential opportunities and serves as a base for riders moving to Europe. Should the team meet their fundraising goal, they have a deep pool of talent to draw from, with Farina receiving 25 to 30 resumes a day from riders looking for teams.
Investing in Cynisca Cycling not only supports a women's cycling team but also provides a significant impact for less investment compared to a top-level men's team. The team's ambitions are high, and with the right support, they aim to make a lasting impact on women's cycling and produce champions from North America.
The financial goal of $1 million for Cynisca Cycling will enable them to advance to the ProTeam level, participating in prestigious races such as the Tour de France Femmes in 2026, and provide an operational and competitive viability for the new season. In effort to sustain their program, the team is seeking sponsors, offering tax-deductible investments that could contribute to making champions from North America and have a significant impact on women's cycling.
