The image of Swiss Mickaël Schär (AG2R-Citroën) swinging his bottle at the feet of spectators on the Tour of Flanders, Sunday, May 4, went around the world. This gesture cost the Swiss rider dearly, who was excluded from the Belgian classic. “Dura lex, sed lex” (1), but it is now so. As of April 1, professional and amateur riders can no longer do what they want on a bike.
Sit on the frame
The first restriction concerns the Mohoric (2) or egg position. From now on, you will no longer be able to see a runner hurtling down a pass sitting on its frame. “Security question”, notifies the UCI.
“It’s normal, reacts Patrick Destouches the president of the C’Chartres Cycling National 2 team. Kids identify more and more with the pros, and seeing them do that is super dangerous. It’s the same for the position of the arms on the handlebars … If you take a stone, imagine the bowl, and all that that can cause damage, if you are in a peloton! “
Place your arms on the handlebars
As Patrick Destouches stated, the use of the forearms as a fulcrum on the handlebars is also a prohibited position, except in time trials. On the other hand, this point of regulation is debated.
Forearms on the handlebars are no longer allowed, except for timed events.
“At one time, we used small extensions, it is now prohibited and it’s a bit of a shame,” says the ex-pro and native of Châteaudun Romain Feillu, who has taken over an amateur license from CC Périgueux Dordogne. “This position of the forearms could be good during a long breakaway to sometimes rest. But when you ride in a peloton, you had better stay in the wheel of the one in front and follow him. “
This position of the forearms, the Alnélois Hugo Page (19 years), member for two seasons of the Conti Groupama-FDJ, regrets it. “On the flat or in breakaways, I used this position which combined comfort and aerodynamics. It was part of the charm of our sport and also of the habits of pedaling. And, suddenly, forbidding us, it’s weird … “
Throw away your container
On the other hand, what makes both worlds leap, pros and amateurs alike, is the ban on throwing your container outside the areas provided for this purpose, “every 30 to 40 km”, specifies the UCI. Even if they understand that it is for hygienic reasons in these times of health crisis. The UCI speaks more of environmental protection.
“Where are we going, we have to stop!” »Exclaims Patrick Destouches, remembering the exclusion of Schär in Flanders.
“Picking up a canister is a joy for the kids. Must see them in Paris-Tours (editor’s note: the Eure-et-Loir has started the autumn classic since 2009) hang around the teams’ buses to be able to retrieve a container… ”
Patrick Destouches
(President of the C’Chartres Cycling National 2 team)
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Same story with Romain Feillu. “In major races, like the Tour de France, we threw them at the feet of the spectators. But it will come back… It is a temporary measure, because of the Covid. It’s a bit stupid, but it’s the modern world, ”sighs the young retiree (36) from the professional peloton.
In his analysis, he is joined by the young Hugo Page:
” It makes no sense ! When I was little and when the Tour passed near my house, I asked for cans, and when we managed to collect some, it was magic! I understand that this is for hygiene reasons, even for the environment, but still… ”
Hugo Page (Conti Groupama-FDJ)
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But for this gesture which delighted the public, the fines are today heavy and high for the rider at fault and for his team. Very far from the price of a can, as Patrick Destouches reminds us: “A can costs 3 euros. In a race, out of thirty used, we usually lose one or two. Our runners throw them to us in the “ravito” zones. They are washed and disinfected after each race. Among the pros, three-quarters are bio-degradable. “
So watch out for runners to leave the road in this “modern world”, according to Romain Feillu.
(1) Translation: “The law is hard, but it is the law”.
(2) At the 2013 U21 World Championships, the Slovenian Matej Mohoric won after widening a gap on a descent leading to the finish. He then adopted a posture on the bike, sitting on its frame, while pedaling.
Jean-André Provost
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