The new regulations, approved by the UCI Management Committee during their meeting from June 10th to 12th, focus on improving safety in road cycling events. These changes are inspired by the SafeR initiative, launched by Richard Plugge and Jim Ratcliffe, owners of Visma-Lease a Bike and INEOS Grenadiers, respectively. The aim is to unite efforts across the cycling community to enhance participant safety.
The UCI has taken action on several suggestions from SafeR, including the introduction of yellow cards, which will officially commence on August 1st. This system targets not only riders but also team members, motorcycle support, media, and race vehicles, promoting a culture of responsibility to prevent any actions that might jeopardize race safety.
Following a series of severe crashes involving top cyclists, Richard Plugge, CEO of Visma-Lease a Bike, established SafeR in response. Similar to an independent agency in Formula 1, its goal is to elevate safety standards within the sport.
Some measures have already been piloted based on SafeR’s initial recommendations, with more to follow until the end of the season. The most notable change is the yellow card system, which will result in penalties like disqualification for repeat offenders. A detailed list of consequences for accumulating yellow cards is as follows:
– Two yellow cards in one race lead to disqualification and a 7-day ban.
– Three yellow cards within 30 days result in a 14-day ban.
– Six yellow cards in a year mean a 30-day ban.
Additionally, UCI is testing restrictions on team radio headsets, limiting their use to two designated riders per team for communication purposes. SafeR argues that headsets can distract riders and pose risks during crashes.
As a trial, organizers can adjust the finish zone depending on race conditions, extending it up to 5 kilometers from the current 3-kilometer limit. This change aims to accommodate high-speed racing in urban environments while ensuring rider safety.
Furthermore, the calculation of time differences between riders at the finish line has been modified, allowing a 3-second tolerance (previously 1 second) between concurrent arrivals for the main sprinter, simplifying timing and reducing pressure on non-sprinters.
To ensure these measures’ effectiveness, UCI has established the SafeR Safety Analysis Team. They analyze the impact of implemented measures, identify risky sections of race routes, and propose mitigation strategies. They have also been reviewing team practices and policies during races and training sessions.
This shift in focus may lead to a decrease in frequent social media posts by riders during rides. The ultimate goal is to prioritize safety in the sport.