By Brian Canty
Cut off time limits and rules around drafting and sticky bottles are to be much more strictly enforced on this year’s An Post Rás following a new directive by the UCI that it says it intends to rigidly implement.
Commissaires have been instructed by the world governing body to much more strictly enforce cut off time rules in UCI registered races including the Rás; with the organisers of the Irish race being contacted by the UCI on the issue just last week.
Riders outside the time limit will no longer be afforded a “sporting second chance”. Instead, they will only be permitted to start the race the next day if they were genuinely held up and missed the cut off time limit for a very good reason.
Advertisement
It appears the race organisation has also drafted in more motorbike commissaires to police riders ‘out the back’ this year and ensure they are not drafting or abusing the sticky bottle practice.
That move on the race organisation’s part appears to be in response to the new UCI regime. The race organisation also wants to cut down on the number of photos appearing on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter of a small number of riders getting a “helping hand” out the back.
The race organisation has already contacted all teams in writing to inform them that a new regime will be in place this year to prevent such cheating.
The emails to teams note that some images and video of cheating appeared on social networking sites following last year’s race that could be seen as damaging to the event. The correspondence to teams also notes that while only a very small number of riders were involved, the issue was unfair to other riders and to the integrity of the race.
The correspondence sets out the steps that will be taken on this year’s race to address the issue, stating: “This year in a determined effort to prevent cheating behaviour a motorcycle race official will patrol “out the back” of the peloton.”
“The primary function of this race official is to discourage, by his presence, behaviour that not only demeans the individual but also cheats on his fellow rider and brings the race into disrepute.”
“Firm action will be taken against any rider caught cheating and also those aiding and abetting such behaviour.”
Related News
It should be noted that while this area is now being addressed by the race organisation, abuses in previous years have been carried out by only a tiny fraction of those riding the race.
There is nothing to suggest these practices are widespread or that the An Post Rás has been hit any harder than other international races. For example, small numbers of riders are regularly penalised for drafting on the biggest races in the world, up to and including the Tour de France.
However, while running a tighter ship around drafting and abusing sticky bottles is unlikely to concern too many riders, the UCI’s new regime around cut off times will definitely be more of a concern for a much greater number of the 2012 men of the Rás.
The new UCI time limits article 2.6.032 has just been introduced in recent times. It has been brought in to address the repeated cut off time limit exemptions being granted in Grand Tours. However, the UCI insists the new regime will apply to all races.
A statement from Marc Chovelon in the UCI states that only in exceptional circumstances would riders be let back into the race if outside the time limit. Getting dropped wasn’t one of them, getting caught in a tornado or being held up behind some form of protest was.
“With the coming into force of this article, riders out of the time limit on a stage race may no longer be given a second chance (readmitted or repêchés). Thus, any rider or group of riders who crosses the finish line after the set time limit will be eliminated.”
As specified in the article, only cases of force majeure may prompt the commissaires panel to decide to extend the deadlines.
As such, only extraordinary and unpredictable events may be considered (e.g. a falling tree, a public demonstration blocking riders, an accident independent from the rider, a tornado, etc.)”
All commissaires have received instructions urging them to strictly apply this rule. Consequently, second chances (repêchages) are to become rare and exceptional events. The organisers of the An Post Rás were contacted by the UCI on this issue only last week.
Topics
