‘Why not go back to fixed gears and mending your own punctures?’
Former world championship runner-up Alexander Kolobnev and triple Tour of Denmark winner Jakob Fuglsang have joined the calls for race radios to remain permitted in pro races, saying that they are in disagreement with the UCI about the issue.
Kolobnev outlined what he said is the plan of action; he says that for now, that doesn’t entail further strikes, as happened on day one of the Mallorca Challenge, but rather a different form of protest.
“The idea is to collect as much as signatures as possible from the riders, present them to the CPA [riders’ assocation] and later to the UCI,” he said.
“We are all involved in this decision, riders and directors. Security is the main issue, but is not the only one. It is something necessary to have communication with the team director in case the rider needs something. Without it the race can be interesting, it’s true, and it can play against or in favour of our interests.”
Kolobnev feels that it is reflective of a wider issue, that the UCI doesn’t listen to the others in the sport. “The problem is not the radio. The problem is that the UCI is making their own rules without asking anybody. It is time for us to stand together and protest against this behaviour.”
The UCI’s position is that banning radios will force riders to think for themselves, thus potentially leading to less predictable racing, more surprises and more excitement. If it is proven to be the case that radios dramatize racing – something which is possible, but which is yet to be proven – some compromises have been suggested in order to achieve a balance. One is to allow one way radios, with riders able to communicate with the team car to notify the directeur sportif of crashes, punctures and other issues.
The UCI has not indicated that it is open to discussion, though, and simply wants a blanket ban.
Fuglsang argues that this should not be the case, and even makes the point that it can benefit riders who are clear of the bunch. “When I’m in a breakaway I use the motivation from our sports directors to go even harder. To fight even more for the victory, even if the situation doesn’t look that positive anymore. There is always a chance and the sports director can help me to remember that and keep going, even if I feel like giving up and getting caught.
“It doesn’t mean that we are controlled by the sports directors. We are still humans and not robots just because we get a radio. We still makes our own decisions and observations in the race. So for that reason I’m 110% for radios, because it also make it more safe.”
He argues the safety aspect, saying that radios can help in communicating the message about upcoming hazards such as road furniture.
“If you get a warning before, you are more alert and ready to act in the right way.”
Writing on his personal blog, Fuglsang said that he considered the banning of radios to be a step back in time, and something which goes against the natural development of the sport.
Because of this, he pokes a little fun at the push to ban them. “I was joking a bit with Andy (Schleck) yesterday about the fact that UCI wants more interesting races. So what about taking away the feed zones and only let us start with one bottle, and maybe no food? That would give some interesting hunger-flats on television.
“We could also take away the cars so that we would have to fix your mechanicals and punctures yourself. Maybe even go back to one gear or, even better, fixed gear so riders wouldn’t be able to ride the climbs and would be crashing left and right on the downhills. That would make for some interesting TV….”