French champion Audrey Cordon-Lago spoke out about the Zaf Cycling team and admitted to allegations that management has not paid its riders and staff since January 1, 2023.

The Spanish-registered women's team is currently under investigation by the UCI and the Spanish Cycling Federation, and the sports governing body is attempting to implement a bank guarantee to clarify the team's financial situation and, if necessary, compensate the riders and staff.

"We are working with the responsible bodies to recover our funds, but since January 1 we have not been compensated nor have our travel expenses been reimbursed. We are in a situation that is not befitting a professional team and it is very complicated to exercise our profession, even though we have been doing so since January 1," Cordón-Lago said in an interview with Ouest-France (open in new tab).

The sZaaf cycling team set out to hire riders left without contracts after the collapse of the B&B Hotels-KTM team last December, adding Audrey Cordon-Lago, Maggie Coles-Leister, and Heidi Franz to its 15-rider roster with last-minute contract agreements. The additions were.

The Zarf Cycling Team, which became a club team in 2021, was promoted to a UCI Continental team for the first time this season. Zarf Cycling Team riders are competing in a full calendar of races, starting with the Australian summer season, including the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Road Race, as well as early season events in Spain and the opening round of the Spring Classics.

Riders from the Zarf Cycling team have finished in the top 10 in 14 events this year, with Zayed Ahmed taking a double title at the national championships in Egypt.

In March, allegations surfaced that the team had not compensated its riders and staff following reports by journalists Charles Marceau and Raoul Bankeri. Cordón-Lago later admitted that they had not been paid for the past three months.

"They promised to pay us. But it's the same thing every week for almost three months. I don't see the money coming, and it's clear that we can't live without it. I don't know what to do. It's complicated," Cordón-Lago said. [If they are not paid by the end of March, they have been offered the option of using the financial (bank) guarantee that was paid to the Spanish Federation.

"So we can't wait any longer. Because if another month goes by without our salaries being paid and we ask for this bank guarantee at the end of April, we will have a month that will not be covered by this guarantee. And we will have worked voluntarily for a month. We can't work for free for three more months."

Cycling News contacted the Zarf Cycling team to clarify the team's financial situation, but the team has not responded.

The Spanish Cycling Federation confirmed to Cycling News that it is aware of the allegations against the Zaaf Cycling Team and has received documents that it will use to provide evidence that some of the team's riders and staff are not being paid. They also confirmed that if the players and staff are not properly compensated, they will attempt to execute and draw on the team's bank guarantee on March 31, 2024.

Under current regulations, federations cannot use the bank guarantee for one year from the time that compensation to riders and staff is stopped, but the Cyclist Alliance (TCA) told Cycling News that it is working with the UCI and the Spanish Cycling Federation to try to get the bank guarantee started sooner They said they are working with the UCI and the Spanish Cycling Federation to get the bank guarantee in place sooner.

Cordón-Lago said that he is not angry with the Zarf cycling team, but believes that management is currently suffering from logistical problems that are preventing them from accessing the funds needed to pay riders and staff from their designated bank accounts. She said the team is working to find a solution to this problem.

"I'm starting to despair a little," she said. 'If the team doesn't find a solution soon, I don't know how we can continue. Not only are the players not getting paid, but the staff is not getting paid either. At some point, it will be impossible to survive."

Cordón-Lago suffered a stroke before the World Championships last September and was part of the group of players left without contracts when the B&B Hotels team suddenly collapsed.

"It's a big deal ...... Another hassle. Then again, I have honest people in front of me who want to get out of there. They are not the ones who say stupid things. The problem is that at some point you have to find a solution."

The athletes on the Zarf Cycling team are reportedly discussing not being on the starting line in Ghent-Wevelgem on Sunday and possibly not competing until the financial situation is resolved.

Iris Slappendel, co-founder of the TCA, told Cycling News that until a solution is worked out, it is only natural that the athletes feel they need to put their working conditions before racing.

"Our understanding is that the riders do not want to protest. But at this stage, there are priorities for the riders that are more important than participating in sporting events," Slappendel said.

Cordón-Lago stressed that he did not know what would happen to the Zarf Cycling Team in the future, saying that they may stop competing for a while to sort out their financial situation, but may continue racing at a later date.

"The team may stop for a while because of this bank guarantee. That is why we hope that this financial aspect will be resolved soon." [Thursday, March 23, 2023] "We were told two more weeks. ...... If we don't make any progress in the next few weeks, we will make a decision," she said.

Asked if Cordón-Lago might consider changing teams, she told the Ouest-France newspaper, "It is still too early to say. If I were to resign, I would not be able to race before June 1. But it could taint the rest of my season, that's clear."