UCI threatened to revoke licenses of teams involved in Romandie scandal: 5 teams appeal

All riders from Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto, EF Education-Oatly, Lidl-Trek, Picnic PostNL, and Visma | Lease a Bike were disqualified in the opening time trial. The reason? The bikes on which the trial against the clock was completed did not have GPS trackers on them. The UCI stated during the time trial.

"The UCI regrets that certain teams on the start list for the Tour de Romandie have refused to comply with the race regulations regarding the implementation of GPS trackers as a test for a new safety system. The decision by these teams to oppose the specific regulations of the event is surprising and undermines the efforts of the cycling community to ensure the safety of all riders in cycling by developing this new technology," it said.

Each team had to designate one rider to whom the 63-gram GPS tracker would be attached to the bike. “The UCI regrets that certain teams have objected to the test by not designating a rider to carry the tracking device and have therefore decided to be excluded from the Tour de Romandie. In view of this situation, the UCI will consider whether other measures are justified in accordance with UCI regulations.”

“It should be noted that most of these teams are part of the Velon organization, which owns its own data transmission system and is working on the development of its own GPS tracking system,” the UCI said. ‘It is regrettable to see that certain teams refuse to continue working together to protect the safety of the riders, and the UCI condemns their refusal to cooperate.’

That was not the end of the matter. On Friday, the five teams issued a collective statement. “Five women’s professional teams—Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto, EF Education - Oatly, Lidl–Trek, Team Picnic PostNL, and Visma | Lease a Bike—and eight riders have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against their disqualification from the Tour de Romandie Féminin in August,” it said.

“In addition to the disqualifications, the UCI has referred the teams to its Disciplinary Commission and threatened to revoke their licences via the UCI Licence Commission,” the UCI is said to have threatened. “The appeal asks CAS to review the UCI’s decision to expel five teams and disqualify 30 riders after a GPS tracker safety test.”

The reason is explained once again. "The UCI had mandated the use of an experimental device developed by its sponsor, Swiss Timing, in a professional race, without prior consultation or transparent communication. The teams and riders had expressed willingness to cooperate with the test, requesting that the UCI mount the devices on the bike and appoint riders accordingly."

"When the UCI declined to do so, the teams and riders were subsequently disqualified," the teams conclude. "The appellants argue that the collective disqualification violated UCI Regulations, was disproportionate, imposed without due process, and enforced in a manner that left riders and teams feeling intimidated."

To be continued...