The International Cycling Union (UCI) unveiled its new set of rules on Thursday aimed at making the sport safer. Photo: Getty Images
The International Cycling Union (UCI) unveiled its new set of rules on Thursday aimed at making the sport safer with punishments in one-day races extending to an immediate “red card”.
In stage races, a first offence will be treated with a 30-second penalty, the second with two minutes and the third with an exclusion.
Among the changes is a ban on riders sitting on the horizontal tube of the bike in the “supertuck” position, a manoeuvre popularised by Chris Froome on his way to victory in the 2016 Tour de France.
Riders will also need to be more wary of how they dispose of their drinks bottles while riding as a careless throwing-away may also provoke an instant ban.
They will now be required to dispose of drinks bottles in dedicated areas which will be roughly every 30 to 40 kilometres along the road.
In the new regulations, “riders must have complete control over their bicycle in all circumstances and at the same time set an example for less experienced cyclists”.
They must respect the position requiring their only points of support to be “feet on the pedals, hands on the handlebars and seated on the saddle”.
Other new regulations, including the installation of crash barriers and the appointment and training of security officials will take effect from April 1.
