The Mitchelton Scott team has revealed that all of its men's and women's WorldTour teams and staff have taken significant pay cuts to weather the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the subsequent lack of racing, and a significant economic downturn.

The Australian team became the fifth WorldTour team to cut costs as racing was suspended and the 2020 race calendar remains uncertain; the CCC team, Astana, Bahrain McLaren, and Lotto Soudal have all taken payroll Other teams and many professional teams have taken or are expected to take similar steps.

According to Belgian reports, Mitchelton Scott's pay cut is nearly 70%.

Mitchelton-Scott members include Adam and Simon Yates, Esteban Chavez, Jack Hague, and a number of Australians who play in the peloton. The women's 11-person team is led by world champions Annemieke van Fruten and Amanda Spratt.

While some riders and staff from other teams are furloughed and can claim special COVID-19 state benefits, most of the Mitchelton Scott riders and staff are self-employed and are paid through the team's management company based in Switzerland. Riders and staff should investigate what state benefits they are entitled to from their respective countries of residence. Other teams may be more protected because they are either directly owned by sponsors or are obligated to employ riders and staff.

The Mitchelton-Scott team told Cycling News that the players and staff have accepted the pay cut and have remained united during difficult situations and local lockdowns, holding conference calls and virtual rides together.

Mitchelton Scott was one of the first teams to organize a virtual ride on the Zwift platform after suspending racing activities before Paris-Nice after medical advice. The team's service course is located near Varese in northern Italy.

The pay cut is not related to a lack of riders racing or staff work, but based on the need for budget savings after funding cuts have been reported to the UCI. The cuts, which will be reviewed in the coming months, were made to ensure the viability of the team when racing resumes and for the remainder of 2020.

Mitchelton Scott has long been financed by wealthy Australian businessman Jerry Ryan and his various companies in order to secure major commercial sponsorship. Mitchelton is an Australian wine producer and Ryan has interests in the entertainment industry, but funded the team out of his love of cycling rather than out of direct commercial return.

Like many businesses around the world, Ryan has had to make tough financial decisions in the wake of COVID-19.

Last week, the AIGCP Team Association sent a letter to the UCI asking for a series of extraordinary measures to change the sport's financial rules, including a pay cut deferral and partial/temporary unemployment. They also asked for the introduction of below-minimum salaries, if agreed to by all parties, and "other temporary compromises that would help protect the teams and the jobs that support them."

The CPA Riders Association is trying to protect the riders' interests and wants to bring each case to the UCI Arbitration Committee to understand whether any cuts were made fairly and in good faith. the CPA is hoping that teams that cut riders' pay will be able to 2021 or later, and hopes to offer some sort of contract to the riders.