The yellow card system was tested at both men’s and women’s WorldTour events last season. “A total of 31 yellow cards were issued over 66 days of racing, to riders (52% of cases), team personnel (32%) and drivers and pilots of media vehicles (16%).” said the UCI in a press release. The system now officially comes into force.
In addition to WorldTour events, cards may also be issued during Worlds, ProSeries events and national championships. Twenty-three racing infractions are likely to result in a card. After a certain number of cards in a given time, the person concerned may be disqualified or suspended for several races.
New UCI rule: riders who celebrate their sprinter’s victory before the line will be penalized!
Thus, two yellow cards during a one-day or stage race will result in disqualification and a seven-day suspension; three cards in a thirty day period will mean a fourteen day suspension and six cards in a year will mean a thirty day suspension.
A consensus emerged in favor of adapting the protocols concerning the sprint zone. The three-kilometer rule may be extended to a maximum of five kilometers, at the request of the organizer and subject to UCI approval. Which means that when a rider is the victim of an incident (fall, mechanical problem or puncture) in the last three to five kilometers of a straight stage (excluding summit finishes), depending on what has been determined before the start of the stage, he will be allocated the time of the riders with whom he was riding at the time of the incident.
-The method for calculating time gaps for sprint finishes has also been simplified. From now on, the same time will be allocated to runners in the same group as long as a gap of maximum three seconds, and no longer one, separates two runners following each other.
The aim is to “simplify the calculation of time gaps” for stages ending in a sprint and to “reduce the pressure on riders not directly involved in the sprint by allowing them to leave a certain margin with the front of the race .”
The season will also see the return of fixed refueling zones every 30 to 40 kilometers, whereas free refueling had been authorized during the covid-19 pandemic.
The UCI says SafeR also “studies a wide range of areas regarding road racing safety.” This includes course assessment software to improve the way race routes are selected and prepared as well as equipment solutions. The UCI cites the use of airbags for riders, regulations regarding rim height and handlebar width, as well as the study of development restrictions to reduce maximum speeds.
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