The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the worldwide governing physique for aggressive biking, is understood for extremely overbearing, typically downright wacky guidelines. And yearly, committees on the UCI develop a litany of amendments to the overwhelming variety of laws. However a 2025 change appears to do nothing however take enjoyable out of profitable.
Many UCI amendments are actually warranted. One modification requires a rise within the minimal variety of ambulances accessible because of the sharp enhance in severe accidents (one among which resulted in a loss of life in 2024). Different rule modifications preserve bike growth in verify to considerably mitigate variations in staff budgets.
And, in fact, the foundations in opposition to performance-enhancing medication are essential to keep away from one other Armstrong period.
Nonetheless, many guidelines additionally appear pointless, like specifying what kind of jersey a racer can put on for various races (highway, mountain, downhill, and so forth.). Different guidelines seem arbitrary, just like the minimal weight rule (14.99 kilos). The UCI may have chosen any weight, however at this weight, it’s turning into widespread for highway race groups to have so as to add weight to bikes that fall beneath the restrict, even in inventory type.
Lastly, some UCI laws appear merciless to opponents. One rule prohibits feeding a rider within the first 30 km or final 20 km of a race. Are you able to think about bonking with 20 km to go? Or presumably being unable to get fluids on an atrociously scorching day as a result of your place within the group?
And violation of the foundations prices groups and opponents cash within the type of fines.
However for me, a brand new modification for 2025 has taken the cake. It actually takes the enjoyable out of a win.
Rejoice Good Occasions (or Not)
I admit I’ve points with authority. However I swear, for the 40 years I’ve been following skilled biking, I’ve by no means seen a UCI official smiling. They all the time look so severe. They’re like the 2 previous males on the balcony within the Muppet Present, however not having enjoyable and laughing. No, the UCI commissaires are pointing fingers at potential violations of obscure guidelines and scowling.
I observe yearly amendments out of curiosity about what minuscule facet the UCI will bestow a rule and effective upon. Loads of rule modifications shocked, outraged, or amused for many years. However this rule modification for 2025 (in purple) drew essentially the most ire ever.
What this implies to us fun-loving sports activities followers and contributors is {that a} rider behind a profitable teammate can’t elevate their arms in celebration. Solely the winner can. This can be for security causes, however self-preservation ought to prevail, particularly for professionals.
New ‘No Celebrating in The Bunch’ UCI Rule: An Instance
Think about you could have been defending your staff chief for six hours, using at your restrict. You may have climbed the tallest, steepest paved mountains in all of Europe and descended at scary speeds to remain in touch along with your captain.
You rode all the way in which again to the staff automotive to fetch fluids and meals, after which fought the wind alone to get again to your chief. You took the captain’s jacket or sacrificed your personal. Possibly you donated your water or meals.
Then, within the final 10km, you vehemently protected them from hazard in a roiling pack, with each staff trying to maintain its chief on the entrance. You bumped elbows, yelled at others, and turned your self inside out to maintain your chief on the entrance however in your draft.
Then, with the end line in sight, you’re completely spent. You can’t proceed, so that you pull off and coast, so exhausted you’re quivering and on the verge of vomiting.
However your chief wins! And, in fact, which means you win! Your arms go up in celebration, as do others who have been on the lead-out prepare. It’s a giant day to your staff, your sponsors, for you.
As you watch your chief step as much as the rostrum to just accept palmarès and thank the staff, a UCI commissaire faucets you on the shoulder and fingers you as much as a $545 effective. You additionally get relegated to final place within the group with which you completed. Or worse but, you get a 25% discount in factors within the class through which you compete within the stage race.
Thanks, UCI
Each sport wants guidelines and enforcement to maintain it protected and honest. Nonetheless, the UCI appears to make guidelines simply to make new ones.
On prime of that, the UCI disregards guidelines which were round for many years. These embody drafting behind the staff automotive after a mechanical or crash. Or taking a “sticky” bottle from the automotive (holding on to the bottle momentarily so the rider will get a bit of push).
I’m chalking this one as much as an previous, stodgy UCI official having a foul day.
