It’s time for women to receive equal pay in professional cycling, too.

Joyful as it was to watch the U.S. Women’s National Team bring home another World Cup title, it was a painful reminder of the vast gender gap that still exists in 2019, particularly in sports. Gender inequality continues to prevail in most professional sports — and professional road cycling is among the worst, with a vicious cycle of hugely disproportionate funding, payouts, support and attention bestowed upon the sport’s men vs. its women.

For 21 days in July, the Tour de France reminds us every day of what’s broken in professional cycling: grossly unequal pay, little TV and media coverage and significantly less opportunity for women. The average UCI WorldTour men’s team has a budget of approximately $16 million; the average women’s team budget is a mere $200,000. There is currently no Tour de France for women (just La Course, a one- or two-day circuit race that many of the top women feel is conciliatory), but the first American to win the tour in 1984 was Marianne Martin — a woman. The men’s winner that year — Laurent Fignon — won $100,000 and a mountain of prizes. Marianne got $1,000 and a trophy.

In 2019, women’s major cycling races are often cast as the “plus one” to the men’s main events. Most female pro cyclists have second and third jobs and many live on their credit cards to race. They don’t get paid because they’re not on TV and they’re not on TV because there’s not enough funding. There’s not enough funding because the sport elicits so little attention. It’s a vicious cycle.

For all women, for all athletes, for young girls riding a bike, shooting a basketball, kicking a soccer ball, now is the time for change. Just as the U.S. women’s team is doing for soccer, it’s time to take a stand and demand gender equity in pro cycling. It’s time for cycling’s Billie Jean King moment.

In August, the Colorado Classic presented by VF Corporation hopes to provide one such moment with a game-changing race. We’re taking a stand by forgoing the men’s race and investing solely in the women’s side of the sport. The four-stage UCI 2.1 race through Colorado Aug. 22

25 aims to advance equity for women in a male-dominated sport with higher prizes, startto-finish live TV streaming coverage, female commentators and overall, shining light on the sport’s top women. This could be the moment for cycling that wakes up the sport for change.

That’s right … the time is now for race organizers to lead by example and the riders to make their needs heard. This means equal pay for men and women, streaming coverage and prime TV placement for both. It’s time for comparable team support, race opportunities (there are currently only 132 women’s races on the UCI calendar compared to 416 men’s), sponsor backing and race support, including balanced start times, prizes, routes and media coverage.

Road cycling’s worldwide governing body, the UCI, now requires that Women’s WorldTour promoters provide 45 minutes of live TV or streaming coverage of events. By 2020, the UCI will introduce a minimum wage for top-tier women’s teams, similar to men’s. Meanwhile, the riders themselves are getting organized, and in 2018, we saw the formation of the Cyclists’ Alliance, which aims to galvanize opportunities and support for women in cycling, and to provide a better workplace environment for riders.

Change is happening. If anything can be learned from the powerful journey of the U.S. women’s soccer team, it’s the conversations they’ve started and their drive for equality. The U.S. women’s soccer team has proven that the athletic prowess of half of the human race deserves equal pay, equal attention and equal support.

Now all we need is you. We need you to tune in, show up at the race and join the movement for equality. The Colorado Classic has the support of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and the State of Colorado in proclaiming July 17 as “Equity in Cycling Day.” Add your voice to the chorus and sign the pledge for gender equality in pro cycling. It’s time to close the gap. It’s time to end the vicious cycle. Together #WeRide.