Not everyone is happy with new anti-celebration rule: "I can’t recall any crashes caused by that"

Jimmy Engoulvent, a former cyclist and now a team director at Cofidis, questions why the UCI chose to target this specific aspect of sprinting. "It’s possible that such celebrations could be dangerous," he told Le Parisien. "But I can’t recall any crashes caused by that. It doesn’t seem like a priority when it comes to safety." Other riders have suggested that limiting gears to reduce speeds would be a more effective step toward improving safety.

The 45-year-old Frenchman speaks from experience. Known for his speed during his career, he often raised his hands in victory as a lead-out rider for sprinters like Jimmy Casper and Thor Hushovd. He is not one to say that this never involves an element of danger. "You take enormous risks, not just for yourself but also for your sprinter and your team. Not everyone is ready for that, and it demands immense mental toughness. That’s why lead-outs are so respected."

Still, Engoulvent finds the rule unfair. "It’s like saying in football only the goal scorer is allowed to raise their arms in celebration," he compared. "In cycling, a sprint victory rewards the entire team. For the lead-out rider, it’s recognition of our work. It’s frustrating to have that moment of joy taken away from us." The penalties for breaking the rule include a yellow card, disqualification, and a fine. "If it’s a Tour de France victory, I think teams won’t mind paying a fine of 500 euros," he noted.

Engoulvent, who has worked as a team director for the French squad for a decade, believes the UCI should prioritize other measures. “We should consider introducing a VAR system like in football,” he suggested. “Right now, two or three marshals are sitting in the back of a truck, hunched over smartphones to review sprint finishes. It’s far from ideal for assessing a sprint.” A notorious example was the Amstel Gold Race, where the jury decided the winner of the photo finish using a smartphone.

He also emphasized the need to address the chaos that unfolds in the final kilometers of a race. "I’ve often seen problems about two kilometers from the finish. Riders cut each other off to block others from passing. There are also sudden changes in direction, from one barrier to the other. A lot can happen, and it’s difficult to generalize — you have to assess each case individually. That’s why a VAR system is so important..."