The National Cycling League (NCL), which made its debut with high hopes in 2023, has officially ceased operations following a tumultuous first year and a hiatus in 2024. CEO Andrea Pagnanelli confirmed the league’s closure in a recent LinkedIn post, stating that she is “actively exploring new opportunities.”
“We had to wind down operations for the National Cycling League at the end of 2024,” Pagnanelli wrote. “While this chapter is closing, it represents an extraordinary journey of innovation, learning, and impact.”
Despite numerous attempts to engage with NCL representatives, Cycling Weekly has been unable to obtain official confirmation regarding the league’s status. However, Pagnanelli’s post, along with the lack of responses from NCL officials, confirms that the league is no longer in operation.
The NCL launched with great fanfare in April 2023, aiming to revolutionize American cycling with its unique, spectator-friendly format. Supported by a high-profile group of investors, the league featured city-specific franchise teams and promised a substantial prize purse. However, it quickly encountered a series of setbacks, and only three events took place during the inaugural season.
Challenges ranged from cancelled events and venue changes to the firing of the race management team and reshuffling within the league’s executive ranks. These issues persisted throughout the season, leaving many observers skeptical about the league’s long-term viability.
By the end of 2023, many NCL riders found themselves without contracts for 2024, despite the league’s ongoing promises of expansion and growth. In April 2024, the NCL announced an indefinite hiatus, citing “current economic challenges in the domestic and global cycling industry.”
“We will not field events or teams in 2024, but the executive team and board of directors will focus on restructuring the business model in response to the challenges facing the industry, with plans to return stronger in 2025,” the NCL stated at the time.
However, behind the scenes, it became apparent that a revival was unlikely. Sources indicated that riders were moving on to other opportunities, and teams were selling off their gear and equipment. Pagnanelli’s announcement in January 2025 confirmed that the NCL’s prospects for returning in 2025 had been extinguished.
The NCL’s closure marks the second time a U.S.-based league with this name has failed to gain traction. In the late 1980s, an unrelated version of the National Cycling League was formed, with franchises in cities including Boston, Los Angeles, and Miami, as well as European teams from London, Milan, and Amsterdam. The format, designed for television and catering to short attention spans, combined elements of criterium and points racing. Despite initial excitement, the league struggled to secure mainstream media support and folded after just five years.
Unfortunately, the latest iteration of the NCL has fared no better, leaving cycling fans disappointed by yet another failed attempt to establish a prominent national cycling league in the U.S.
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