Functioning of Yellow Card System for Cyclists at the Tour de France, Resulting in Potential Disqualification
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the global governing body for cycling, has taken a significant step towards enhancing safety in professional cycling by introducing the yellow card system in January 2025. This system, a recommendation from SafeR, cycling's cross-party safety body, is designed to deter dangerous behaviours within the peloton, particularly during races.
## Key Aspects of the Yellow Card System
Since its implementation, the yellow card system has been active across all UCI WorldTour, ProSeries, and Continental Championship events. The most common reasons for issuing yellow cards include unsafe driving in races, unsafe behavior of team staff in feed zones, and riders in sprints. As of July 2025, the system has been used on 235 race days, with 159 yellow cards handed out across men's and women's races.
Unlike yellow cards in other sports, the yellow cards in cycling do not have a physical existence. Instead, they function as an advisory punishment for rule infractions. The primary goal is to promote a safer racing environment by penalizing and deterring behaviours that could lead to accidents or injuries.
The yellow cards are used to penalize the most dangerous behaviours in the peloton. These include actions that could potentially cause crashes or put other riders at risk. The system is not intended to be a harsh penalty, but rather a means to encourage riders to race safely and responsibly.
The UCI's safety measures, including the yellow card system, are part of broader initiatives aimed at improving rider safety. These also include gear ratio limits, GPS tracking, and other safety protocols to reduce incidents in professional cycling.
The rules of cycling have remained largely unchanged for over a century. However, the introduction of the yellow card system marks a new era in the sport, where safety is given the utmost importance. The UCI is responsible for explaining how the yellow card system works, with UCI commissaires being responsible for issuing yellow cards, similar to referees in other sports.
In the 2025 cycling season, the yellow cards will be introduced to deter dangerous behaviours in the peloton. The UCI regularly introduces new regulations to enhance rider safety, and the yellow card system is just one of many initiatives aimed at creating a safer and more enjoyable sport for all participants.
In the 2025 cycling season, the UCI's yellow card system, an initiative aimed at promoting safety in professional cycling, will be active across all UCI WorldTour, ProSeries, and Continental Championship events. The system, similar to referees in other sports, functions as an advisory punishment for rule infractions related to unsafe driving in races, unsafe behavior of team staff in feed zones, and riders in sprints, with the primary goal of promoting a safer racing environment by penalizing and deterring dangerous behaviors that could lead to accidents or injuries. Unlike yellow cards in other sports, the yellow cards in cycling do not have a physical existence, serving as a means to encourage riders to race safely and responsibly.
