The idea of introducing tickets for spectators at road cycling races has been discussed for years, but no action has been taken yet. Charging for tickets is common in track cycling and cyclo-cross, and many believe it should be extended to road racing as well.
The organizers of the Tour de France do not support the idea that fans should pay for access to key sections of the races. However, former top cyclist and team manager Jérôme Pineau believes it should be considered.
Pineau cited next year's Tour's double ascent of Alpe d'Huez on two consecutive days as an ideal opportunity to implement a ticketing system. He suggested it could help strengthen the fragile financial situation of the teams. "Why not charge people for access to the final parts of the mountains?" Pineau asked rhetorically. "If we charged people for the last five kilometers, it would bring in a considerable amount for the teams without affecting the race."
VIP tents are already a common feature in both cyclo-cross and some one-day races, such as the Tour of Flanders, where the most expensive spot will cost over 700 euros in 2026. In 2023, Visma–Lease a Bike team manager Richard Plugge proposed that fans could pay a more modest 10 euros for limited access to mountain sections. He saw it more as a security deposit to prevent chaos and crashes, rather than a source of revenue. "Perhaps we should charge 10 euros, which would be refunded if nothing happened on the descent," he clarified.
In recent months, the idea of organizing more races on circuits to reduce disruptions from protests, which caused interruptions or cancellations on several stages of the Vuelta a España, has also been supported.
A representative of ASO, the company organizing the Tour, quickly dismissed the idea of charging for tickets, stating that paid entry would contradict cycling's principle of "access for all." "Cycling is inherently free for spectators, and introducing a ticketing system is absolutely not on the agenda," said Pierre-Yves Thoualt, deputy director of ASO's cycling department.
However, Vincent Lavenu, the long-time manager of the AG2R La Mondiale team, noted that the recent collapse of the Arkéa–B&B Hotels team after sponsors withdrew, and the ever-widening budget gap between the largest and smallest WorldTour teams, are making it increasingly difficult for some teams to remain competitive. Therefore, he believes that more reliable long-term revenue streams need to be found, or even a salary cap should be considered.
"Currently, there are teams supported by the state or by giant companies with unlimited budgets, and others who are struggling to retain sponsors, whose backers are increasingly unwilling to open their wallets," said Lavenu. "Cycling is too dependent on sponsors. Teams do not benefit from TV rights, like in football, nor from ticket revenue."
The question is whether race organizers will share ticket revenue with clubs or not?
