Using program theory to evaluate sport league reforms: the case of professional road cycling

Abstract

This article demonstrates the potential of program theory evaluation (PTE) in evaluating sport league reforms through an analysis of the Union Cycliste International's (UCI) competition reform in professional road cycling. It is asserted that PTE can yield different insights in comparison with other evaluation models about why a sport league reform succeeds or fails. With respect to the UCI competition reform, previous assertions that the failure of the reform was caused exclusively by team-related problems are rejected. In contrast, it is asserted that the reform was unsuccessful due to problems related to both teams and race organizers: (1) the unwillingness of race organizers to participate in the competition; (2) implementation failure of the start duty of ProTour teams; and (3) the dependency of professional cycling on European races and teams.