women’s WorldTour Thrown into Chaos as Teams Face Disqualification Over UCI Tracking dispute
The Tour de romandie Féminin has descended into turmoil with five teams disqualified on the eve of the opening stage following a bitter dispute with the Union cycliste Internationale (UCI) over the implementation of a new GPS rider tracking system. The controversy centers on the UCI’s decision to mandate the trial without prior consultation with teams, sparking accusations of unilateral action and disregard for rider welfare.
A spokesperson for Lidl-Trek confirmed to road.cc this morning that the team woudl not participate in the race’s opening time trial between Huémoz and Villars-sur-Ollon, just minutes before the scheduled start. The core of the disagreement lies in the UCI’s plan to trial a new GPS tracking system, slated for use at the upcoming World Road Championships in rwanda, beginning with the Swiss stage race.
Following the teams’ refusal to comply, the UCI issued a strongly worded statement, condemning their actions as “deplorable” and accusing them of undermining efforts to enhance rider safety. The UCI announced last week that the trial – introduced in the wake of the tragic death of 18-year-old Muriel Furrer at last year’s world championships – would require one rider per team to carry the tracking device during the Romandie race. The intention is to refine the system before its full deployment at the World Championships,where all riders will be equipped with trackers.
The UCI views the teams’ refusal as a setback to those efforts. The governing body highlighted that the trial was approved by SafeR, a structure dedicated to safety in cycling, and that the technology aims to provide real-time data to race control and medical teams.
The UCI also pointed to the teams’ affiliation with Velon, an association that owns its own data transmission system and is developing a competing GPS tracking system. “It should be noted that most of these teams are part of the Velon organisation which is the owner of its own data transmission system and is working on the progress of its own GPS tracking system,” the UCI stated. The governing body indicated it may consider further sanctions against the protesting teams.
In a joint statement, the five disqualified teams expressed their “shock and disappointment” and questioned the UCI’s refusal to collaborate with velon. They emphasized their support for rider safety initiatives but criticized the UCI’s unilateral approach and the perceived attempt to impose tracking for the benefit of its own World Championship event.
“Despite our cooperation and the existence of a proven and collaborative safety tracking system already tested successfully in other major races… the UCI has chosen to impose this measure without clear consent,threaten disqualification,and now exclude us from the race for not selecting a rider ourselves,” the teams stated. They further argued that the UCI failed to justify the need to select a single rider for tracking and questioned the legal basis for forcing teams to accept the devices.
The teams also accused the UCI of contradicting its own stated commitment to dialog and collaboration. They emphasized that the right to mount devices on riders’ bikes rests with the teams and that any installation should be done with their consent.They further stipulated that they would not consent to the UCI using the GPS data and that any party attaching the devices would be liable for any resulting injury or damage.
The dispute underscores a growing tension between the UCI and professional cycling teams regarding control over data and technology.The teams argue that the UCI is prioritizing its own commercial interests – namely, the World Championships – over a collaborative approach to rider safety. The situation raises questions about the future of rider tracking in professional cycling and the balance of power between the governing body and the teams.
This action disregards the rights of teams and riders, applies the measure in a discriminatory manner, and contradicts the UCI’s own stated commitment to dialogue with stakeholders,” the teams concluded. “We are always at the forefront to make cycling a safer sport, but it should be achieved thru collaboration, not coercion.”
