UCI introduces new guidelines for race vehicles in response to safety concerns

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has published new guidelines for traffic in races. The document is aimed at all drivers of vehicles operating during road cycling events.

In December, Lotto-Soudal rider Stig Broeckx emerged from a coma six months after a crash involving two race motorbikes at the Tour of Belgium.

That collision had taken place less than two months after another Belgian rider, Wanty-Gobert’s Antoine Demoitié, had died following another motorbike collision during Gent-Wevelgem.

In the wake of those incidents, the UCI announced plans to update its road racing safety regulations and subsequently put together a working group of riders, teams, race organisers and commissaires to review and improve rider safety and security ahead of the coming season.

The new document defines the rules governing all drivers operating during a road cycling event. Anyone contravening the rules can be sent to the UCI Disciplinary Commission.

UCI President Brian Cookson commented:

“This guide for vehicle circulation in a race is an important step forward which reflects the concrete efforts made by the UCI and all stakeholders to improve the safety of riders at competitions. I would like to acknowledge the constructive spirit shared by our federation, the riders, teams, commissaires and organisers during this in-depth work.

“We call on the drivers’ sense of responsibility to guarantee the safety of riders. This document backs up our regulation, which was strengthened last year, and will serve as a reference for commissaires and organisers as well as anyone working at a race. This guide is proof of our determination to assume our responsibilities in the face of a capital issue: the security of our sport and our athletes.”

As well as rules of conduct to be followed at the wheel, there are also specific rules about how vehicles should operate during the race.

The specific rules about passing riders are:

• Vehicles  shall  pass  one  at  a  time,  without  excessive  speed,  and  without hindering the riders' progress.
• Drivers shall honk their horn to warn riders when passing them.
• It is recommended that riders not be passed while passing through urban areas.
• Press and guest vehicles must not overtake the peloton.
• If a vehicle wishes to return to the back of the race by being overtaken by the peloton, it must do so safely by carefully pulling off the road in a manner that does not hinder the progress of the peloton. Any vehicle that pulls over must do so completely out of the way of the riders.