The UCI introduced three new measures to enhance security throughout highway races on Wednesday, with refined adjustments to the 3km rule, calculating time gaps within the peloton throughout dash phases, and a brand new ‘yellow card’ system to punish repeat offenders breaking the principles throughout races.
The adjustments will likely be examined through the 2024 season, with “choose phases” on the Tour de France getting used as a proving floor for extra versatile bunch dash guidelines.
The yellow card system will likely be applied with out sanctions this 12 months, however a system of elevated punishment for repeat offenders will likely be on the rulebook from January 1, 2025.
All of the adjustments had been based mostly on the suggestions of the SafeR mission, an impartial group accountable for analysing dangers throughout UCI WorldTour, Women’s WorldTour and ProSeries races and offering security recommendation.
“SafeR demonstrates that each one the biking households can work collectively to enhance security, which is key to the way forward for our sport,” Tour de France normal director Christian Prudhomme mentioned.
“These newest initiatives present that our laws can evolve as our sport continues to develop and face new challenges. With sure measures already being launched for the Tour de France, that is proof of the collaboration to enhance security inside the biking households.”
Yellow playing cards
The yellow card system will start on August 1, 2024. The UCI took care to notice the playing cards won’t be bodily objects like in soccer however will likely be famous on the race communiqué in the identical method the present rule violations are famous.
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The distinction is that the UCI will likely be monitoring what number of violations every member of the race convoy accumulates and hand out suspensions of as much as 30 days for a number of offences.
“A big survey performed final 12 months indicated the necessity for a yellow card system in biking, which will likely be examined within the coming months earlier than being applied subsequent 12 months,” CPA President Adam Hansen mentioned.
“These preliminary measures beneficial by SafeR to the UCI exhibit that riders’ requests are being heard and acted upon. It is essential, and we’re making important progress on this space. There remains to be a lot work to be executed, and I sit up for persevering with the strong work that has begun.”
Until January 1, 2025, the present system of docking UCI factors and fines in Swiss francs will proceed. Each violation will likely be entered right into a yellow card database however no suspensions will likely be handed out till subsequent 12 months.
The proposed punishments as soon as the system is in place are disqualification and a seven-day suspension for 2 yellow playing cards in the identical race, a 14-day suspension for 3 yellow playing cards in 30 days and a 30-day suspension for six yellow playing cards in a single 12 months.
However, as soon as the punishment for a number of yellow playing cards has been accomplished, the person’s document begins clear once more.
If a rider is suspended throughout a race for accumulating a number of yellow playing cards, they are going to be ejected from the race however will get to maintain any outcomes and UCI factors gained through the race.
Yellow playing cards could be handed out to riders, staff employees, drivers of race automobiles, “who may have interaction in behaviour that would jeopardise the protection of the occasion. In addition, the system will intention to make all these individuals extra accountable by introducing the monitoring of unhealthy conduct over time and consequently encouraging respectful behaviour.”
Rule violations that may end up in a yellow card:
- Taking off a compulsory helmet through the race
- Disposing of waste outdoors the litter zone
- Madison-style hand slings between teammates or riders of various groups
- Pushing off a automotive, riders pushing different riders or riders receiving repeated pushes from spectators
- Holding onto a staff automotive or getting mechanical help from a shifting automobile
- Sheltering behind the slipstream of a automobile
- Irregular feeding (sticky bottle)
- Irregular sprinting (consists of bodily contact, rider deviating from their line, and so forth)
- Deviation from the race route
- Use of sidewalks/pavements/paths that aren’t a part of the race route
- Passing by means of a stage crossing that’s closed or within the means of closing
- Improper conduction (assaulting spectators or different riders, indecent behaviour)
- Cars/motorbikes obstructing the motion of riders or different automobiles
- Failure to adjust to commissaire directions
- Interviewing riders throughout a race (consists of media automobile drivers and journalists)
- Interviewing a sports activities director over the last 10km (sports activities director, media driver, journalist)
Tour de France exams
The UCI is wanting so as to add extra flexibility to the “three-kilometre rule” that permits riders to be given the identical time because the group they had been with if they’re halted by a crash or mechanical. The distance was beforehand one kilometre however was prolonged in 2005.
During the Tour de France, the UCI will take a look at extending the rule additional to 5 kilometres in addition to experiment with a most time hole between teams of three seconds reasonably than one.
The distinction is roughly 50 metres between riders reasonably than 17 metres and can permit non-sprinters extra room to take a seat out the mayhem of a bunch gallop with out sacrificing their place within the normal classification.
“Feedback has proven that almost all of riders needed the 3km rule prolonged to scale back stress throughout hectic race finales,” Hansen mentioned.
“I’m thrilled that this will likely be examined at some dash finals on the Tour de France, and I thank the UCI and ASO for permitting it.”
Race radio limits on the horizon
Race radios/earpieces additionally got here up within the press launch, with the UCI saying it will “take a look at the results of a restriction on sporting and utilizing earpieces in races this 12 months” however no determination has been made on how or when the restrictions could be examined, however they used an instance of limiting earpieces to 2 riders per staff.
The UCI tried to ban earpieces in 2011, even testing a full ban through the Tour de France on stage 10. Teams prompt permitting two riders per staff to have earpieces however had been rejected by the UCI.
At the tip of 2011, the problem got here to a head with groups threatening to boycott the Tour of Beijing if the UCI did not relent in its pursuit of a full race radio ban. Eventually, the UCI banned radios in lower-level races and on the World Championships.