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Riders say radio ban out of tune
Source: Agencies |
September 30, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
TIME trial world champion Fabian Cancellara and Road World Championship holder Cadel Evans have queried authorities for banning riders and their teams from using radio during the world championships in Australia.
Swiss rider Cancellara said the International Cycling Union's ban had raised safety concerns given riders had become used to getting team information about potential road hazards during races.
"Rules are rules and that is how it is. But I still think it is wrong," local media on quoted Cancellara as saying.
"We are in 2010. We are not in 1996 or 1960 or whatever. The radios are here not to get riders information that they have to breathe, to pedal, to push the pedals. For me, the most important thing is the safety reason. When there's something happening, when something is coming on the road, you have to get information. Whether it is a crash..."
Cancellara will bid for a record fourth time trial world title today before joining Evans and an elite field in the road world championship race on Sunday.
Evans said the ban would be a jolt for riders who had been using them on the professional tour all year.
"I am just abiding by the rules, I don't make them," he said. "But it is a bit strange for everyone. Normally such a dramatic rule change is eased into. Whereas, to race all year with radios and then 'boom', no radio, it's a big change and (there is) a lot that we have got to adjust to."
The UCI last year voted to phase out the use of radio earpieces in the professional peloton by 2012, concerned that the technology was eroding the spontaneity and tactics of bike racing. A spokesman said the ban was to ensure races were held in the right 'spirit'.
"It's so that the races aren't decided and played by people sitting in a car," the spokesman said. "We would like to restore the spirit of the racing. You are the rider, you have to decide based on your instincts, you have to decide by yourself what you have to do, whether to attack or not."
Swiss rider Cancellara said the International Cycling Union's ban had raised safety concerns given riders had become used to getting team information about potential road hazards during races.
"Rules are rules and that is how it is. But I still think it is wrong," local media on quoted Cancellara as saying.
"We are in 2010. We are not in 1996 or 1960 or whatever. The radios are here not to get riders information that they have to breathe, to pedal, to push the pedals. For me, the most important thing is the safety reason. When there's something happening, when something is coming on the road, you have to get information. Whether it is a crash..."
Cancellara will bid for a record fourth time trial world title today before joining Evans and an elite field in the road world championship race on Sunday.
Evans said the ban would be a jolt for riders who had been using them on the professional tour all year.
"I am just abiding by the rules, I don't make them," he said. "But it is a bit strange for everyone. Normally such a dramatic rule change is eased into. Whereas, to race all year with radios and then 'boom', no radio, it's a big change and (there is) a lot that we have got to adjust to."
The UCI last year voted to phase out the use of radio earpieces in the professional peloton by 2012, concerned that the technology was eroding the spontaneity and tactics of bike racing. A spokesman said the ban was to ensure races were held in the right 'spirit'.
"It's so that the races aren't decided and played by people sitting in a car," the spokesman said. "We would like to restore the spirit of the racing. You are the rider, you have to decide based on your instincts, you have to decide by yourself what you have to do, whether to attack or not."
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