The days of riders celebrating their teammates’ victories in the crowd may be gone after the UCI introduced a new rule to curb the behaviour.
The new rules, submitted on December 23 and now in effect, will see drivers who “slow down during sprints and endanger other drivers” being fined, demoted and booked.
The governing body specifically lists certain behaviors as punishable, including: remaining in the group of other riders, speaking on the radio, taking your hands off the handlebars in a crowd, and celebrating in a crowd.
Fines for breaking the rules range from CHF 100 (£89) to CHF 500 (£446), depending on the level of competition and the severity of the infringement. The guilty rider could also face relegation to the bottom of the group and a yellow card – a measure introduced in August 2024 to sanction unsafe behaviour.
During stage races, riders who violate the rules may be penalized by 25% of points or mountain standings.
The new rules will take effect on January 1, 2025.
(Image source: UCI)
At last year’s Vuelta a España, Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Edward Planckaert was fined 200 Swiss francs (£179), deducted 10 UCI points and suspended for “inappropriate conduct endangering others” after celebrating team-mate Kaden Groves’ victory. Was shown a yellow card. bundle.
Plunkart’s movements and deceleration in the final 100 meters were deemed to have jeopardized the path of Lotto Dstny rider Victor Campanaerts, who was sprinting from behind him.
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This new rule is part of the UCI’s ongoing efforts to make road racing safer. In 2023, the governing body launched the SafeR program, an independent entity designed to improve event safety.
“The safety of riders, as well as team and roadside personnel, is the UCI’s top priority,” said then UCI President David Lappartient.
“We must acknowledge that the number of accidents and injuries continues to increase. Several factors have contributed to this unfortunate trend, including the rapid expansion of road facilities designed to control vehicle speeds, particularly in urban areas, and the rapid increase in the speed of today’s main vehicle groups. Increase.
“The UCI and all of the cycling family must come together to reverse this trend, and the shared desire to find solutions together is reflected in the creation of SafeR.”
Measures so far include the introduction of a yellow card system, restrictions on the use of headphones during races and the addition of a 3km sprint rule, under which riders who cause an accident in the final 3km of a sprint will be penalized. Credited with the same time as their group – up to 5km.
