UCI rules against Richie’s RV for the Tour

Cycling’s governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI), has ruled that 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome will not be allowed the use of a personal motorhome during the Tour de France.

The motorhome of Team Sky's Richie Porte, parked near vehicles of the team, during the first rest day of the Giro d'Italia (Getty) Source: Getty Images

As team leader for May’s Giro d’Italia Froome’s Sky team-mate Richie Porte used a motorhome hoping there would be a performance gain from sleeping separately to his team-mates - avoiding the noise and distractions of the team hotel.

There were plans by Sky to do the same for 2013 winner Froome at the 4-26 July Tour.

However, after a meeting of its management committee the UCI said today that: “In all road stage races on the international calendar, the organisers must cover the subsistence expenses of the teams from the night before the start to the final day and riders must stay in the hotels provided by the organiser throughout the entire duration of the race”.

It said the decision (article 2.2.010 of the UCI regulations), which comes into immediate effect, was made in order to “reaffirm absolute fairness between all riders.”