Who is the precise Danish time trial champion? UCI deliberation means Skjelmose wears champion’s package regardless of Price-Pejtersen being declared winner by federation

Johan Price-Pejtersen (Alpecin-Deceunicnk) could have been reinstated as Danish time trial champion by the Danish Cycling Union (DCU) on the finish of January, however Tuesday’s staff time trial at Paris-Nice noticed Mattias Skjelmose nonetheless using within the nationwide champion’s jersey.

Lidl-Trek racer Skjelmose was handed victory on the Danish National Championships final June after initially ending second within the race, with Price-Pejtersen disqualified for using on the pavement.

Skjelmose, who had completed two seconds down on the 41km course, was a reluctant champion, saying he had “nice sympathy” for his “good good friend” Price-Pejtersen.

He formally held the title of Danish time trial champion till January 28, when the DCU introduced that Price-Pejtersen can be reinstated as champion, along with his disqualification reversed and his punishment decreased to a deduction of 25 UCI factors and a CHF200 effective.

However, the UCI has intervened and can now make a ultimate approval of the reinstatement, a call which has nonetheless to be dominated upon by the UCI Disciplinary Commission.

On February 17, the DCU stated that the UCI “has chosen to reopen the case”, with the game’s governing physique saying in a letter addressed to the DCU that “it has determined to refer the case to the UCI Disciplinary Commission”.

In the announcement, the DCU acknowledged that the UCI has referred to article 12.5.010 of its laws, which states that “the UCI has the precise to attraction any disciplinary choice taken by a nationwide federation”.

As a results of the DCU’s ruling having but to be confirmed or overturned by the UCI, the riders are racing based on the established order of the unique disqualification. 

That meant that Price-Pejtersen rode in Alpecin-Deceuninck package in time trials on the UAE Tour (February 18) and Tirreno-Adriatico (March 10), whereas Skjelmose was within the Danish champion’s skinsuit at Paris-Nice on Tuesday.

Skjelmose, who after the time trial final June stated that “I’ve due to this fact supplied Johan that he can have each the jersey and the medals – to acknowledge his achievement, in order that it doesn’t go down in historical past as a pure annoyance”, would in any other case have been fined for using in incorrect package, as riders are obliged by the UCI guidelines to put on the nationwide champion’s package.

Both riders will little question be awaiting the result of the UCI Disciplinary Commission choice, with the case now dragging on for greater than eight months after the unique race.

Cyclingnews has contacted the UCI for remark.