Is it time for minimum weights?

[enCYCLOpedia]

Given that some of the performance enhancing drugs in use today are targeted at weight loss, and in the face of remarkable changes in the physiology of several recently successful riders, is it time to introduce minimum rider weights?

Under such a system, a rider weighing less than the lower limit would be given a handicap (similar to ski jumping), which could come in the form of extra weights to carry on his bike. The limit could be set in terms of a minimum BMI, absolute body weight, or both (as determined by physiologists), and introduced at the start of a new season giving riders time to prepare.

In my opinion, it would be to the benefit of all riders, as it would prevent a race to the bottom that is harmful to everyone involved, whether through the use of drugs, or through extreme diets accompanied by anorexia athletica.

Cycling already has other regulations intended to protect riders, like the minimum weight for bikes that prevents teams from taking risks with unsafe equipment, or the rule that all riders must wear cycling helmets. It would not require any further invasion of privacy, nor expensive new tests that can change the outcome of a race weeks or months after the fact.

 

[happychappy]

This is possibly one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. Perhaps you could get a job writing ****ty rules for the UCI.

 

[pepcalais]

Works well in motor racing as a method of keeping parity among the field.
But in cycling power and weight have a major effect on each other, ie bigger riders tend to produce more power than smaller ones. So if a smaller less powerfull rider is handicapped say 4kg to reach this introduced minimum (say 70kg for example) he cannot compete as effectively because he produces the power of a 66kg rider.The 70kg rider has a distinct power/weight advantage as he has 70kg of rider producing power as opposed to 66kg producing power and 4kg of ballast.If smaller less powerfull riders have troubles competing in TT at a lighter weight imagine if they also had to carry dead weight.
Not applicable to cycling as weight is somewhat proportional to production of power.
Ps, I am not championing the cause for light climbers as I am at 78kg myself but I think a riders physical make up will determine where his area of advantage is either hills,tt or sprint.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Just to clarify the ski jumper rules. From Wiki (check other sources if you like):

Ski jumpers below the minimum safe body mass index are penalized with a shorter maximum ski length, reducing the aerodynamic lift they can achieve. These rules have been credited with stopping the most severe cases of underweight athletes, but some competitors still lose weight to maximize the distance they can jump.[17]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski-jumping

 

[UlleGigo]

Yep. Then we need standardized leg length. We won't stop until everyone is the same. Conform!!!!!!

 

[ebandit]

Fat

am i the only one who thinks that this would be a great idea?

why should fat b4stards like me be at a disadvantage?

Mark L

 

[Carlo Algatrensig]

am i the only one who thinks that this would be a great idea?

why should fat b4stards like me be at a disadvantage?

Mark L

how about we fill your tyres with helium to make your overall weight lower

 

[alitogata]

This would be unfair for the naturally small sized-low weight athletes. Unless if they make weight categories, like there are in martial sports ( boxing, judo etc).

 

[Netserk]

Would that mean that Quintana should be banned? He only weights 56.5kg. Or what about Rujano? IIRC he is under 50kg.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Would that mean that Quintana should be banned? He only weights 56.5kg. Or what about Rujano? IIRC he is under 50kg.

of course there wouldn't be a minimum weight but for example a minimum bmi of 18.5. btw nairo would be 19.6, which is healthy and I think that was the point of OP

In my opinion, it would be to the benefit of all riders, as it would prevent a race to the bottom that is harmful to everyone involved, whether through the use of drugs, or through extreme diets accompanied by anorexia athletica.

 

[icefire]

I agree with the OP. And to prevent cheating by changing bikes the extra weight should be added to their helmets

 

[manafana]

they could introduce a health test, to take in bmi etc for riders, kind of like the 50% rule in doping days, but for the health of rider not relating to doing drugs.

 

[jw1979]

bmi would be ridiculous to use, especially when mass is normalized to the square of height. even done to the cube of height there would be serious issues.

if it HAD to be done, maybe DEXA scans would be the best. like the 50% hct rule, anything under 3.5%bf for men and 6%bf for women means you need a 2 week health break eating lots of waffles with coconut oil on them.

 

[Master50]

I wanted to give a serious answer but the premis is just absurd for this sport. in order for weight to be controlled the riders all need to make the same power like in car racing. What do we do to even the filed for super lightweights? Add drag to the big guys?
Every rider has a personal minimum weight where thie power drops off or their immunity systems start to be affected.
Small riders alread have penalties on the flats and relatively carry a strength to weight penalty from the bike minimum weights A 7 kilo bike is a larger portion of the total weight of a 50 Kilo rider than a 70 Kilo rider.
Minimum weights are a bigger advantage to big riders and can still be abused by an anorexic big guy
This years Tour will feature riders with a maximum weight of 55 kilos and next year it will be the minimum weight

 

[BroDeal]

The proper limit would be a limit on emaciation not weight. The problem is there is no easy way to measure emaciation. Body fat % cannot be used because the riders are doing more than simply losing fat; they have consumed a lot of their muscle tissue. Check out the arms of Hesjedal for example.

It is one of those things that is hard to define but you know it when you see it.

It occurs to me that body building has problems that are sort of similar. Once the top body builders began to look like freaks, the "sport" lost it coverage in the popular media. Is cycling served well by having its riders look like they just escaped from a concentration camp?

 

[jw1979]

The proper limit would be a limit on emaciation not weight. The problem is there is no easy way to measure emaciation. Body fat % cannot be used because the riders are doing more than simply losing fat; they have consumed a lot of their muscle tissue. Check out the arms of Hesjedal for example.

It is one of those things that is hard to define but you know it when you see it.

It occurs to me that body building has problems that are sort of similar. Once the top body builders began to look like freaks, the "sport" lost it coverage in the popular media. Is cycling served well by having its riders look like they just escaped from a concentration camp?

True, but how many of the ultra-emaciated men have bf% above 4-5%? Serious question that I definitely don't know.

The idea behind the OP's question is somewhat valid, if not extremely unlikely to ever happen, even if the wording is a bit off the mark by using "minimum weight".

You're right about the freak show as well. It only further points out that to be exceptional at endurance sport is not healthy. If you want to hit X w/kg and can't use scientific enhancement to get that last 5% while keeping an acceptably normal physique, the alternative seems to be locking yourself in a room with a set of rollers, your bike, and giving your DS the key and a signed paper saying you authorize being locked up for 6 weeks and only fed 1000kcal a day.

Emaciated is fast for a little while according to recent trends. Enhanced seems to be fast for, well, at least 7 years apparently.

 

[Michele]

Will we have UCI commissaire giving burgers or choco bars to underweight riders before each race?

 

[Microchip]

The proper limit would be a limit on emaciation not weight. The problem is there is no easy way to measure emaciation. Body fat % cannot be used because the riders are doing more than simply losing fat; they have consumed a lot of their muscle tissue. Check out the arms of Hesjedal for example.

It is one of those things that is hard to define but you know it when you see it...

Exactly. I recalled being horrified at Froome (I will look for the photo) at a race quite a few months ago. He was a total bag of bones.

I do get the spirit of the question asked by the OP.

 

[131313]

This is not a ridiculous idea, and those who claim otherwise probably haven't seen some of these riders up close. Also, many of the objections are easily shot down. This won't "penalize light riders". Body fat scales allometrically to overall size, and the minimum fat requirements as a % aren't going to penalize or reward certain riders. Additionally, I've never seen anyone naturally walking around under 5% body fat. Obviously, using BMI or a height/weight chart isn't going to work, but that's an implementation issue, not a concept issue. The idea is that if you're going to participate in a sport this grueling, you need to have a certain level of health. Body fat % is part of that, and there's no reason it should be excluded from health checks.

The problems comes in the implementation of it, and of course dealing with the potential for abuse. But personally I think it's a good idea and one worth pursuing.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Even if there was a test for AICAR, yes, minimum something related to body weight is required. How it gets defined is another matter.

The UCI will likely treat it like EPO years ago, "Huh? What? How dare you bring up dark things that cannot be proven and cast aspersions on cyclists. This year is the cleanest peloton ever."

 

[Microchip]

...The UCI will likely treat it like EPO years ago, "Huh? What? How dare you bring up dark things that cannot be proven and cast aspersions on cyclists. This year is the cleanest fattest peloton ever."

Fixed it! You’re welcome.

 

[Microchip]

What is this!?!?! What could possibly be wrong with sporting a pound or two extra!?!

Is this really him? If so, what a difference in even his looks!

 

[red_flanders]

Even shedding hair to get that weight down. Those are marginal gains!

 

[hiero2]

What is this!?!?! What could possibly be wrong with sporting a pound or two extra!?!


Is this really him? If so, what a difference in even his looks!

Yeah - we were talking about this last year - and I see Ryder looked overly skinny like this at the Giro. I think it is part of their marginal gains - get the body fat down super low, and somehow still make sure the rider is sufficiently fueled during the race to maintain strength. Get the improved watts/kg.

I think that is what happened to Ryder at the Giro, and maybe Wiggo - there is a downside to getting that body fat out - if you can't keep the liver and tissues stocked with sufficient fuel - blowout.

Since we are in the Clinic - they could be using some of the newer substances to help achieve the lower body fat.

 

[Microchip]

...Since we are in the Clinic - they could be using some of the newer substances to help achieve the lower body fat.

And this is what I believe enCYCLOpedia was driving at. Things that shed the weight that could border on affecting the health of the riders.