Dear Club Presidents,  

CEO & Chair Update

As we move through the middle of 2026, we wanted to provide an update on several important projects and initiatives underway across AusCycling. These projects are focused on strengthening our sport, supporting clubs and event organisers, improving the member experience, and ensuring we are well positioned for future growth. 

Importantly, many of these initiatives reflect feedback received from engagement with clubs, volunteers, discipline communities and members across the country and echoed through the Special General Meeting. 

Road Racing Taskforce - Consultation Complete, Recommendations Under Development 

The Road Racing Taskforce has now completed one of the most extensive consultation programs undertaken by AusCycling, engaging more than 200 stakeholders 1:1, conducting focus groups with representatives from every state and territory, receiving more than 40 written submissions, and gathering over 1,500 survey responses from riders and event organisers. 

While every region has its own unique circumstances, a remarkably consistent national picture has emerged. 

Whilst not felt uniformly across the country, the consultation confirmed that road racing is facing significant structural challenges. Rising traffic management costs, increasing compliance requirements, volunteer fatigue, and changing participant preferences are all placing pressure on the traditional road racing model. At the same time, there remains strong passion for road racing and widespread support for meaningful reform. 

Key themes from the consultation included: 

• Traditional road racing has become increasingly difficult and costly to deliver. 

• Volunteer recruitment and retention are becoming major challenges. 

• Participation in cycling remains strong, but riders are increasingly seeking different experiences including gravel events, participation rides and social riding opportunities. 

• Greater consistency, coordination and support is needed across the national road racing system. 

• Clubs are seeking stronger communication and engagement from AusCycling. 

The Taskforce has now moved into the recommendations phase, working with a national working group of club leaders, promoters and industry representatives. Final recommendations will be presented to the Board in August, with a focus on creating a more sustainable, coordinated and participant-focused future for road cycling in Australia. 

Membership Project – Building a Simpler and Stronger Membership Model 

The Membership Project continues to progress as we work towards a simpler, clearer and more accessible membership framework. The project is focused on ensuring our membership offering better reflects the way people participate in cycling today, while also strengthening the connection between riders, clubs and the broader AusCycling community. 

Key areas of focus include: 

• Simplifying membership categories and pathways. 

• Creating clearer participation options for recreational riders, club members and racers. 

• Improving digital member experiences and service delivery. 

• Supporting clubs through stronger membership acquisition and retention tools. 

• Better aligning membership benefits with participation opportunities across all disciplines. 

The project is being developed alongside the Event Classification Framework to ensure membership pathways and event participation requirements are aligned and easy to understand for riders, clubs and event organisers. 

We have communicated the membership products and pricing models with clubs this month. All current memberships stay active until their next renewal date. You don't need to do anything for your members right now as AusCycling handles all member communications. Training will commence the week of 13 July for clubs to complete set-ups in JustGo.  The AusCycling Member Services team is on call to provide full support to clubs and all the information you will require can be found on the club hub:  Memberships shaped by riders, for riders | AusCycling 

Event Classification Framework – Creating Consistency Across the Event Network 

A major review of AusCycling's event classification and sanctioning framework is nearing completion. 

The objective of this project is simple: create a consistent, transparent and nationally aligned approach to event classification, event delivery standards and sanctioning requirements across all disciplines. 

The proposed framework introduces a clear event structure ranging from Club and Regional events through to State, Nationally Significant events, National Series and National Championships. It also establishes clearer delivery standards, date protection principles, participation requirements and support expectations for event organisers. 

Benefits of the framework include: 

• Greater clarity for clubs and event organisers. 

• Improved calendar coordination. 

• Better participant understanding of event pathways. 

• More consistent delivery standards nationally. 

• Stronger support for event organisers. 

• Improved alignment between participation and performance pathways. 

Consultation has highlighted strong support for greater consistency and earlier calendar planning. The final stages of the project will focus on governance review, stakeholder consultation and implementation planning. 

Delivering on the Outcomes of the Special General Meeting  

Following the Special General Meeting in May this year, Board and Management has been focused on mechanisms that will strengthen engagement, communication and collaboration with clubs and members.

Several initiatives are now underway. 

State / Territory Engagement and Working Groups to Drive Change

A consistent message throughout consultation processes has been the desire for greater involvement in debating and shaping the future of the sport. 

In response, AusCycling will facilitate a series of face to face, State and Territory based Club workshops and will explore the establishment of targeted working groups bringing together representatives from the Board, National Advisory Committee, management, discipline experts and clubs. 

These groups will be tasked with tackling specific challenges and opportunities across areas such as participation, events, disciplines, governance and membership. 

The goal is to ensure expertise from across the cycling community contributes directly to future decision making and shared accountability. 

State and Territory Engagement Workshops

Over the coming months, AusCycling will invites Clubs to participate in facilitated engagement workshops across the country.  These workshops will provide opportunities to: 

• Discuss roles and responsibilities across the system (AusCycling and Clubs). 

• Consider key data and insights. 

• Discuss and debate key areas of focus. 

• Discuss local challenges and opportunities.  

• Ensure member and volunteer voices continue to shape decision making. 

• Strengthen collaboration between clubs, states and the national organisation. 

We believe a strong sport is built through strong partnerships, and we remain committed to creating more regular, meaningful and transparent opportunities for engagement.  That said, engagement is only successful when it is a two-way proposition, so we look forward to your involvement in the coming months. 

New Clubs Communication Portal on auscyling.org.au 

Development has commenced on a dedicated communication and engagement portal designed to provide clubs, discipline bodies and volunteers with easier access to information, project updates, consultation opportunities and key organisational resources. 

The portal will become a central location for sharing updates on major projects, governance matters, policies, club forums and newsletters, resources and strategic initiatives. Keep an eye on the website as we continue to make updates and share information: Clubs and Riding Groups | AusCycling 

Trans and Gender Diverse Policy

To provide a clear and consistent framework for the participation of transgender and gender diverse people across all levels of cycling in Australia, AusCycling is developing a Transgender and Gender Diverse Inclusion in Cycling Policy.

The policy will support safe, respectful, and inclusive environments for all participants while recognising the need to consider inclusion, safety, and integrity in competitive cycling. The policy will be informed by relevant legislation, contemporary research, medical and legal expertise, national and international sporting frameworks, and the lived experiences and perspectives of those with relevant expertise and experience. The development of a Policy will be accompanied by education, tools and resources and guidance on its implementation for clubs and members. 

To support this work, AusCycling has established an Advisory Group to provide insight and feedback throughout key stages of the project to ensure the development process is informed by appropriate expertise and stakeholder perspectives.

Recognising the complexity of this area, the development process will include evidence gathering, targeted stakeholder consultation, policy drafting, governance review and Board consideration.

Looking Ahead 

The second half of 2026 will see several important projects reach key milestones, including the Road Racing Taskforce recommendations, further progress on membership reform, and implementation planning for the Event Classification Framework. 

We thank you the clubs, volunteers, officials, event organisers and members for their ongoing contribution to cycling in Australia. The level of engagement across recent consultations has been encouraging and demonstrates the passion that exists throughout our community. 

We look forward to building a stronger, more connected and sustainable future for cycling. 

Marne Fechner 
Chief Executive Officer 

Craig Bingham 
Chair, AusCycling