The National Cycling League appears to be fully dead

While Cycling Weekly has not received official confirmation or denial from our National Cycling League contacts, who have been non-responsive for some time, it’s clear that the NCL is officially no more.

Following a year-long hiatus, CEO Andrea Pagnanelli revealed in a LinkedIn post that the organisation has ceased operations and she’s ‘actively exploring’ new opportunities.

“We had to wind down operations for the National Cycling League (NCL) at the end of 2024. While this chapter is closing, it represents an extraordinary journey of innovation, learning, and impact,” Pagnanelli writes.

The National Cycling League debuted with much fanfare in April 2023, hoping to reignite American cycling fandom with its unique —and admittedly entertaining— spectator-friendly format.

Backed by a roster of all-star investors and featuring city-specific franchise teams, the debut season boasted a significant prize purse and even bigger ambitions. Yet, only three events were held in a season plagued by setbacks.

From cancelled events to venue changes, the firing of its race management team and the reshuffling of its C-suite, troubles started early and persisted throughout the series’ short-lived duration.

At the close of its debut year, dozens of riders from the National Cycling League's franchise teams were left without contracts for 2024, even as the organisation continued to promise expansions and an optimistic future.