Safety in cycling passes through the use of yellow cards. The UCI’s latest idea still comes from football (like the use of VAR, introduced in 2018): the aim is to avoid serious accidents due to dangerous maneuvers by runners. The cause, according to many the main one, of the incredible number of serious falls that have so far ruined the season of many teams. The new system of sanctions and disqualifications is also the first manifestation of the life of SafeRthe new structure dedicated to safety set up by the International Cycling Union a year ago but which never really came into operation.
The terrible images of Vingegaard’s fall at the Tour of the Basque Country
The yellow cards
Starting from 1 August 2024, a yellow card system will therefore be introduced in men’s and women’s professional road races. Like in football, except for one thing: there will be no judges to wave them but they will be virtual. To find out, you will need to look for them in the race press release published after the arrival. The initiative, in the UCI’s intentions, aims to have a dissuasive effect on all members of the caravan (runners, sports directors, other riders and motorcyclists, etc.). The objective is to discourage behavior that could jeopardize the safety of the event. There are 21 different possible “risk behaviors”, from deviation of the trajectory during the sprint to obvious misconduct during the race. The period from August 1 to December 31, 2024 will serve as a trial period.
The sanctions for the accumulation of yellow cards will come into force, if the trial is successful, starting from 1 January 2025. The sum of yellow cards may lead to disqualifications as follows:
– During the same race (road race or stage race), anyone who receives two yellow cards will be disqualified from that race and suspended for 7 days, starting from the day following receipt of the second yellow card;
– anyone who receives three yellow cards within thirty days will be suspended for 14 days, starting from the day after receiving the third yellow card;
– anyone who receives six yellow cards within a year is suspended for 30 days, starting from the day after receiving the sixth yellow card.
Restrictions on the use of earphones
The UCI decided to test the effects of a restriction on the use of earphones in competition. The fit will be tested in professional one-day races and selected stage races. The list of events and stages affected has yet to be defined. This decision, we read in the UCI statement, “is based on discussions on the topic within SafeR, which led to the conclusion that earphones could be both a source of distraction for riders and a physical danger because the radio units they are mounted on the back and pose a risk when a large number of teams simultaneously ask their riders to take the lead.” Feedback will be collected from all stakeholders in order to study the effects of limiting the use of earphones and to consider studying other measures that could lead to a change in the way earphones are used, for example by limiting their use. Two runners per team. An overall assessment will be carried out within SafeR at the end of the season, before being presented to the Professional Cycling Council and then to the UCI Management Committee with a view to a decision on the use of earphones in the future.
Modification of the so-called “three kilometer” (or “sprint zone”) rule
The UCI has decided to allow organizers and other interested parties to request, on a trial basis, a modification of the so-called “3 km” rule (or “sprint zone”) which applies when a race enters the zone leading to the final sprint and according to which, in the event of a duly reported accident (for example a fall, mechanical problem or puncture) in the last three kilometers of a road stage (excluding summit finishes), an affected runner is credited with the time of rider or riders with whom he was cycling at the time of the accident. The organizer who requests it may, if justified, obtain an extension of the distance to be taken into consideration pursuant to the aforementioned rule, which may be increased up to a maximum of five kilometres. Any changes must be agreed before the start of the race.
Simplification of the method of calculating time gaps in the stages with a group sprint finish
Similarly, the method of calculating the time gaps for the stages with expected arrival in a group sprint – introduced in 2018 – by SafeR was also examined. At the request of the event organizer, the gap calculation can be extended to three seconds, but only for riders in the main group. SafeR has issued a recommendation to test the application of this special three-second gap calculation regime to all competing groups, with the sole exception of clearly established breakaways. This three-second rule is intended to simplify the calculation of gaps in the stages where a group sprint is foreseen, to ease the pressure on riders not directly involved in the sprint and to allow them to leave a certain margin with the head of the race – three seconds corresponding to a gap of 50 meters instead of 17 meters for one second of gap – and therefore reduce the taking of unnecessary risks. particularly for runners aiming for the general classification.
