Professional road cycling has started the year with an important innovation: the official implementation of the yellow card system. After a testing period in competitions such as the Vuelta and Clásica de San Sebastian in 2024, it was not long before the first sanctions under these new rules came.
Austrian Anna Badegruber (28 years old), sports director of the Norwegian team Uno-X, became the first sanctioned player during the second stage. Santos Tour Down Under The women’s event in Australia and which ended with the victory of the Swiss Rueg Noemi from the EF Education-Otley team. Badgruber received a yellow card and a fine of approximately 211 euros (200 Swiss francs) for overtaking the peloton with a team car without maintaining the proper safety distance, after one of his riders fell.
read this also
The implementation of yellow cards has raised questions about their fair and consistent application in all racing situations in professional cycling. “It would be extremely stressful,” Bedgruber said of his concerns about the new measure. “Now, when moving cars or delivering supplies, perhaps we will always have in our minds whether we are doing everything correctly,” he said. cyclingnews.com,
Main new measures of UCI
Yellow card system. Accumulation of yellow cards will result in suspension from January 1, 2025.
Restrictions on the use of headphones. It will be tested in selected races to evaluate its impact on safety.
amendment to the rules of three kilometers (one of the two sprint zone,This area will be allowed to be expanded up to a maximum of five kilometers in phases.
Simplification of time difference calculationsThe extension of the three-second rule to all groups will be tested in stages with sprint finishes.
The measure – which is similar to those used in sports such as football – adds to restrictions already in place in professional cycling. According to the International Cycling Union (UCI) website, the consequences for accumulating yellow cards are severe: two cards in the same stage or one-day race can result in a one-week suspension; Three results in a 30-day period come in two weeks with no competition; and six in one year result in a 30-day suspension and are applied when contested at UCI World Tour, UCI Pro Series, Olympic Games, World Championships, Continental Championships and under-23 events.
There were more restrictions in the women’s Santos, with television cameras capturing the EF Education–Otley team mechanic hanging from the team car to provide assistance to a female cyclist. After reviewing the images, relevant restrictions were applied. The mechanic received a yellow card, while sporting director Daniel Fodor, who drove the team car, was fined approximately 530 euros (500 Swiss francs).
Swiss Noemi Ruegg (23 years old) celebrates her victory on the podium at the ‘Santos Tour Down Under’ this Sunday.
According to the UCI, the measures not only affect cyclists, but also extend to sports directors, team car drivers, motorcyclists, journalists and mechanics.
This breadth of application is intended to improve general safety in road cycling competitions and encourage greater compliance with the rules.
