The UCI has revealed some race crash and incident statistics earlier than the 2025 season begins on the Tour Down Under in Australia, whereas confirming that a lot of the main security enhancements will once more be delayed as a result of want for additional deliberation and research.
The UCI race incident database, collated with the Ghent College in Belgium, registered 497 incidents through the 2024 season.
The UCI specified that unprovoked rider errors symbolize 35% of incidents. Pressure generated by the method of tactically vital factors within the races similar to climbs, cobbled sectors or sprints sparked 13% of incidents, whereas hazardous street situations, particularly moist and slippery roads result in 11%. The UCI mentioned that street infrastructure, poor street situations and car behaviour had been the reason for 9%, 4% and 1% of recorded incidents, respectively.
The UCI’s race incident database was created as a part of the SafeR project that goals to enhance race security after various high-profile crashes and disputes about duty. The UCI accepts that “the info is collected in a restricted variety of occasions” however hopes that subsequent enhancements may be recognized and cascade right down to decrease ranges of racing.
A SafeR Case Administration Committee meets weekly to evaluate race incidents, anticipate points at upcoming races and conduct security audits of groups and races. They research video evaluation, establish when positioning of motorbikes and staff workers are a hazard, and think about when gear could also be a contributing issue.
SafeR contains representatives from the entire sport’s stakeholders, together with the UCI, race organisers, groups and the riders’ CPA associations.
SafeR was launched earlier than the 2023 Tour de France and simply days after the tragic death of Gino Mäder on the Tour de Suisse. Since then different riders have handed away and been critically injured resulting from crashes in races however SafeR has nonetheless to make main security enhancements.
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Yellow playing cards and 3km rule
A brand new yellow card punishment system will probably be launched in 2025 after a trial in 2024 however adjustments to the usage of staff radios, particular dash zone guidelines, rim top and handlebar width, in addition to gear restrictions to restrict speeds as recommended by Wout van Aert, are nonetheless being thought-about and any new guidelines have been additional delayed.
The UCI revealed that 31 yellow playing cards had been issued throughout 66 race days of the 2024 trial. 52% had been issued to riders, 32% to staff workers and 16% to media car drivers and bike pilots.
The UCI defined the yellow card system in a video here.
If a rider will get two yellow playing cards throughout the identical occasion, they are often disqualified and suspended for seven days. Three playing cards in 30 days earn a rider or directeur sportif a 14-day suspension. Six playing cards over a 52-week rolling interval can lead to a 30-day suspension. If the suspension falls through the low season, it is going to be served through the subsequent season.
Yellow playing cards may be awarded for 23 totally different offences. They’ll now even be issued for harmful behaviour of a dash lead-out rider similar to celebrating a teammates victory and for harmful behaviour by staff workers in a feed zone.
The UCI confirmed that the so-called ‘three-kilometre rule’ may be prolonged to a most of 5 kilometres, to scale back the stress on riders throughout a dash end. Time hole calculation at finishes has been elevated from one to 3 seconds to alleviate the stress on riders not concerned in sprints to remain on the entrance of the peloton.
SafeR has carried out what it calls a ‘Dash End Survey’ primarily based on suggestions from 174 riders on matters starting from course design to rider behaviour.
Riders known as for consistency within the software of sanctions with harmful behaviour by sprinters and lead-out riders. Riders additionally expressed their issues about course design for dash finishes, the place of obstacles and the necessity to keep away from corners within the final sections.
The UCI described the dialogue as constructive however kicked the can down the street by saying they’ll “proceed discussing future suggestions to be applied”.
After 240 riders and 42 staff representatives accomplished a questionnaire about staff radios, the UCI mentioned they’ll perform an “in-depth research to find out the place enhancements may be made to strengthen the monitoring of the race for the protection of riders and all concerned.”
The specs for end obstacles have additionally been delayed till after a six-month lengthy second section of research, whereas the usage of analysis software program will probably be studied to attempt to enhance how race routes are chosen.
The UCI added that the usage of rider airbags, the laws on rim top and handlebar width and even gear restrictions to scale back speeds are being thought-about. No particular date was given any choice or new guidelines.
“The security of riders is a precedence, each for the UCI and for all these concerned in males’s and girls’s biking,” UCI President David Lappartient mentioned.
“Launched in 2023, SafeR now has a stable construction and is progressing with rigour and professionalism in the direction of the implementation of initiatives that may make street biking safer for its key gamers, the riders.”
