Launched in 2024, the awards recognise initiatives across the “cycling family”—from elite teams to grassroots organisations—that are delivering measurable impact both on and off the bike. This year’s shortlist reflects not only geographic diversity but also a shift towards more structured, outcome-driven sustainability approaches across the sport.

Raising the bar for impact

The calibre of submissions continues to rise, according to Tony Mitchell, President of the Jury and member of the UCI Management Committee.

“With every edition of the UCI Cycling for All and Sustainability Awards, the bar keeps rising. The quality, creativity and tangible impact of the projects submitted made the jury’s work exceptionally difficult.”

From grassroots participation programmes to climate-focused event strategies, the finalists demonstrate how cycling is increasingly being positioned as a system-level solution—supporting both healthier communities and more sustainable urban environments.

Driving participation and inclusion

The Cycling for All category places a strong emphasis on accessibility and community engagement.

Among the finalists is Copenhagen Sprint in Denmark, which incorporates adapted bikes to enable participation for people with impairments. France’s Fédération Française de Cyclisme has been recognised for its “Parc Mobi’Ludique,” a dedicated facility supporting cycling education, while UAE Team Emirates-XRG Academy is developing grassroots pathways in the Emirates.

Together, these initiatives underline cycling’s role in breaking down barriers to participation—particularly across the People and Participation pillars—while embedding long-term behavioural change.

Cycling takes on climate leadership

Environmental impact is at the heart of the Climate Action Award, where finalists are demonstrating how events and destinations can move beyond awareness to implementation.

Cycling 4 Climate’s “Climate Classic 2025” uses participation as a platform for climate engagement, while Saalfelden Leogang in Austria is transitioning from strategy to action in sustainable tourism. Meanwhile, WorldTour CPH P/S has been recognised for delivering a comprehensive and measurable sustainability framework around the Copenhagen Sprint.

The common thread is clear: cycling is not only low-carbon by nature, but increasingly being used as a vehicle to communicate and deliver wider climate solutions.

Innovation across cycling regions

The Bike City Award highlights how regional ecosystems are embedding cycling into everyday life.

Dutch regions dominate this year’s shortlist, with Limburg-Valkenburg’s “Road Map – Kids Cycling” introducing structured pathways into the sport, Noord-Brabant’s “Fietsmaatjes Brabant” enabling inclusive cycling through side-by-side tandems, and Zeeland activating communities ahead of the 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.

These projects demonstrate how infrastructure, innovation and community engagement can align to create scalable impact at regional level.

A moment for recognition—and direction

Winners will be announced at the 2026 UCI Mobility & Bike City Forum in Athens on 10–11 May, alongside the presentation of the UCI Rainbow Award.

“It is inspiring to see how committed our candidates are to advancing cycling for all and driving meaningful sustainability action,” Mitchell added.

The finalists were selected by a panel of seven experts spanning sustainability, mobility, academia and elite sport: Tony Mitchell, President of the UCI Cycling for All & Sustainable Cycling Commission; Laurianne Krid, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation; Carly Gilbert-Patrick, Secretary General of the SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport; Peter Sagan, professional cyclist and advocate; Mike Laflin, CEO and Founder of Global Sustainable Sport; Patrick Rérat, Professor and Co-Director of the University Observatory for Cycling and Active Mobilities (OUVEMA) at the University of Lausanne; and Amina Lanaya, UCI Director General.

Together, the composition of the jury reflects a broader shift across cycling—from isolated initiatives to a more connected, measurable and strategic approach to sustainability.