Was it fair for Aaron Wade to be disqualified for holding his hands aloft after winning the Leinster U16 road race championships in Kilmessan at the weekend?
The father of an underage rider has voiced his unease at the manner in which his son was disqualified after winning the Leinster U16 road race championships in Kilmessan at the weekend.
Aaron Wade from Lakeside Wheelers had broken away from the main field and was coming into the finish area on his own.
He celebrated the moment by raising his hands aloft. However, those behind had effectively just caught him at the line and he soon found out he was disqualified.
“Aaron was away off the front by a couple of hundred metres,” said his father Philip.
“Coming into the finish he threw his hands up in the air as he was crossing the line.
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"And straight away someone shouted to the commissaire to have him disqualified.
“Before Aaron had slowed down they’d called it so I went off down to him to tell him not to make a fuss.
Both Lakeside Wheelers riders took their hands off the bars. However, Sean Kennedy in 2nd place was judged to have done so after he crossed the line and so was not disqualified, with the provincial title and gold medal passing to him from the man first across the line, Aaron Wade.
The teenager's father continued: “I’m on the circuit three years now and been everywhere from the Errigal Youth Tour in Donegal to races in Cork and it’s the first time I’ve seen someone disqualified for that.
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“The rule says, basically, if you’re not on your own or if you’re sprinting in a bunch or against someone else you’re not allowed put them in the air but if you’re solo it’s okay.
“If you’re with someone else you may be disqualified, basically,” he explained of the rules.
The current Cycling Ireland rule on the issue is: “Obstruction of any rider in the final sprint, unsporting conduct towards another rider with the intention of restricting movement, taking a shortcut, substitution for another rider, taking both hands off the handlebars in the final sprint, that involves more than one rider, may result in relegation or disqualification.”
The rider in second place was his teammate Sean Kennedy and he was awarded the win, though he also took his hands off the bars, but was judged to have done so after crossing the finish line.
Aaron Wade leads the race passing through the finish area the lap before the end of the race. He was leading solo and his father has argued when he crossed the line he was finishing off a solo move rather than being part of a group sprint despite those behind closing right up on him by the finish.
“Aaron was fairly gutted,” added his father. “He’s the 500TT champion on the track but this was his first road win of the season.
“We’ve pictures from races the week before and guys are throwing their hands up all the time. It’s just unfortunate.”
When contacted, the promoting club confirmed the U16 winner had been disqualified - by the commissaire - for taking both hands off the handlebars as he was judged to be involved in a sprint rather than a solo winner.
The club continued: “All riders were warned before the race by the commissaire and other officials that this would be the case. So there is no issue. This traditionally has always been the case in youth racing."
However, Philip Wade said his son had missed the announcement.
“Aaron almost missed the start as he was on the rollers (warming up). The group was rolling off so he was joining in at the back.
"I heard after that the riders had been told not to do it but we missed that. So if you’re late for the start… But I’m on the circuit three years and haven’t seen it yet.”
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