The 'rider safety working group', composed of the UCI and other stakeholders such as the CPA riders association, race organisers and team representatives unanimously approved a wide range of measures to improve rider safety in late January. The information is contained with a UCI-published guide which sets out the major conclusions from the working group.
Not all announced changes have been popular with the peloton, though male professional riders Matteo Trentin and Philippe Gilbert were part of the decision-making process. No female professionals were present in discussions, with the lone female representative on the safety working group, Laura Mora
The new rules ban positions of the bike that don't meet the new seat-on-saddle/hands-on-bars requirements. The ‘super-tuck’ and other aerodynamic bike positions are gone, and there are also stricter in-race punishments for littering including time penalities, fines, UCI point loss and disqualification.
Race organisers are also required to do more for rider and race safety. Barriers and routes for race finishes will be redesigned for the 2022 season, with race organisers obliged to nominate a safety officer. The UCI has also hired former pro rider and Tour de Romandie race organiser Richard Chassot as the central UCI Safety Manager.
Punishments for infringement of new rules Source: UCI
The UCI will create a database of crashes to study how and why they occur, and it will take a further look at disc-brake safety, the impact of race radios on safety and even bottle and bottle cage design.
Lappartient made it clear in an interview with Cyclingnews that judges will act during the racing to avoid any delay in punishment affecting the outcome of the race.
“It’ll be like a red card in football," said Lappartient. "If the race commissaire can see it or if the Video Referee sees it, the rider can be put out of the race."
“We can also do it immediately after a race but before we’ve published a final result. We will not go back to it days after, that would be too late.
“Cycling can be dangerous and the ultimate goal of the UCI is to reduce the danger in cycling,” Lappartient concluded on the overall effects of the changes.
