Niamh Fisher Black (file photo) Photo: photosport
Several major cycling teams have been disqualified from the Tour de Romandie Feminin in Switzerland by cycling's governing body the UCI before the race even started, after they refused to comply with the rules to test GPS trackers for a new safety system.
UCI said the teams excluded from the three-stage UCI Women's WorldTour event were: Canyon-Sram zondacrypto, EF Education-Oatly, Lidl-Trek, Team Picnic PostNL and Team Visma-Lease a Bike.
New Zealand's Niamh Fisher-Black, who placed fifth overall at this month's Tour de France Femmes grand tour, rides for Lidl-Trek and is among those affected.
"The UCI regrets that certain teams have objected to the test by not nominating a rider to carry the tracking device and have therewith opted to be excluded from the Tour de Romandie Feminin," it said in a statement.
"In view of this situation, the UCI shall consider if other measures are warranted in accordance with the UCI Regulations."
The 63-gram GPS devices were intended to help UCI refine tracking software and "establish protocols to provide real-time data to race control, medical teams and UCI Commissaires."
Each team was required to have one test rider carry the device, with UCI saying details of the test were communicated to all teams last week.
The safety initiative takes on added urgency following the death of 18-year-old Muriel Furrer, who died from injuries sustained in a crash during the junior women's road race at last year's world championships.
The teenager crashed in a wooded area after leaving the road and was found 90 minutes later by a track marshal before being airlifted to hospital.
"This system will strengthen the monitoring of rider safety during races and enable rapid response in case of incidents," UCI added.
"The initiative is part of the UCI's ongoing efforts to protect rider safety, and broader implementation of this technology is envisaged for coming seasons.
UCI said the technology will be deployed at this year's Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, where all riders will carry the device.
"It should be noted that most of these teams are part of the Velon organisation which is the owner of its own data transmission system and is working on the development of its own GPS tracking system," it added.
'Shocked and disappointed'
In a joint statement, affected teams said they were "shocked and disappointed" by UCI's decision, adding that they had sent formal letters raising concerns about the "unilateral imposition of a GPS tracking device to just one of the riders" on each team.
"We made clear that we would not select a rider ourselves, nor install, remove, or maintain the device," they said.
"The UCI or its partner was free to select a rider and install the device at their own liability if they believe they are in their right to do so."
The teams added that they already had a "proven and collaborative safety tracking system" in place.
"The reason why they don't want to nominate a rider themselves is still unknown and unanswered," they added.
"Despite multiple requests by the teams over the last two days, the UCI commissaires were unable to demonstrate on the basis of which precise UCI rule teams are obligated to discriminate one rider against other riders in terms of obligations.
"This action disregards the rights of teams and riders, applies the measure in a discriminatory manner, and contradicts the UCI's own stated commitment to dialogue with stakeholders."
- Reuters
