UCI rebukes the exclusion of five teams in the Tour de Romandie Féminin due to GPS tracker disagreement; teams express shock and dismay over the ruling
The Tour de Romandie Féminin has seen an unexpected turn of events, with five women's professional cycling teams being excluded from the race due to a disagreement over the introduction of new GPS tracker systems.
The teams, including Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto, EF Education-Oatly, Lidl-Trek, Picnic PostNL, and Visma-Lease a Bike, refused to comply with the GPS tracker rules, expressing concerns over the lack of consultation, potential liability issues, and the perceived unfairness of having only one nominated rider carry the device.
The UCI, the international governing body for cycling, introduced the GPS tracker system as a safety measure following the tragic death of an 18-year-old rider, Muriel Furrer, at a previous world championship event. The tracker transmits real-time location data to race control and medical staff to improve emergency response times.
The system had already been trialled at the men's Tour de Suisse and was set for full mandatory use at the upcoming World Championships in Rwanda. The Tour de Romandie Féminin was used as an initial test event for the women’s peloton.
The UCI has condemned the teams' refusal as undermining collective safety efforts. The organisation requires teams to designate one rider on whose bike the GPS tracker would be fixed, and teams were given further explanations during the Sport Directors pre-event meeting.
However, the teams have made clear that they would not select a rider themselves, and that the UCI or its technology partner could select a rider and install a device at their own volition. The teams argue that there is already a proven and collaborative safety tracking system, tested successfully in other major races, that could be used instead.
The UCI, in response, has expressed disappointment over the teams' exclusion and has stated that it is considering if other measures are warranted in accordance with the UCI Regulations due to the teams' objection to the test.
In a joint statement, the affected teams expressed their support for rider safety but raised concerns about the unilateral imposition of a GPS tracking device. They have also indicated their willingness to engage in further discussions with the UCI to find a solution that ensures both safety and fairness for all riders.
This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing safety measures with team autonomy and fair competition in professional cycling. The UCI, as the governing body, will need to navigate these complexities carefully to ensure the best interests of all parties are served.
[1] UCI Press Release: "UCI Statement on GPS Tracker Dispute at Tour de Romandie Féminin" [2] CyclingTips: "Five Women's Teams Excluded from Tour de Romandie Féminin Over GPS Tracker Dispute" [3] VeloNews: "UCI Condemns Women's Teams for Refusing GPS Trackers at Tour de Romandie Féminin" [4] BBC Sport: "Tour de Romandie Féminin: Five Teams Excluded Over GPS Tracker Dispute" [5] Cycling Weekly: "Why Are Five Women's Teams Refusing to Use GPS Trackers at Tour de Romandie Féminin?"
"The teams refused to comply with the GPS tracker rules in the Tour de Romandie Féminin, arguing that the unilateral imposition of the device could affect fair competition within sports."
"The dispute over GPS trackers in women's professional cycling highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing safety measures with team autonomy and fair competition in sports."
