UCI reduces maximum team sizes for races

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

To improve the safety of the riders, spectators and the race convoy, the UCI Management Committee decided to limit the peloton size to a maximum of 176 riders in all events on the UCI International Road Calendar. Therefore, a maximum of 7 riders will now be allowed per team in all men’s road races (except Grand Tours, 8). In the UCI Women’s WorldTour, there will be a maximum of 6 riders per team in one-day races, 7 in stage-races.

http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/the-uci-announces-extensive-modernisation-regulations/

My two cents: this measure will NOT improve the safety of anyone involved, but in the long term will cost some riders their job as overall team sizes will likely shrink.

 

[Red Rick]

Good decision. Not for safety, but for the racing

 

[hazaran]

I can agree with the change in principal but the manner in which this was announced, prepared and discussed makes the UCI look like the Communist Party of China.

This, we remember, is the same "governing body" whose racing regulations are not worth the paper they are written on in practice and that took years just to get rid of the "maids of honour" clause. Not a good look.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Very good decision. Will bring better employment opportunities mid to long term as a result of better race action.

 

[Echoes]

It's a far better decision for safety than mandatory helmet. It should be less stressful for the riders. However there's still more needed than just that. For entertainment it's also good but an awful lot more is needed in this respect.

Worth mentioning. Schaal Sels organiser Ben Simons made the experience last year. Maximum 6 riders per team. Not extended to this year though.

And even if it comes from the UCI, honesty commands to say that it's a good decision going in the right direction.

 

[deValtos]

Classic UCI. Waits until most of the transfers are complete to announce that teams don't need as many riders. :lol:

 

[Netserk]

My two cents: this measure will NOT improve the safety of anyone involved, but in the long term will cost some riders their job as overall team sizes will likely shrink.

Possibly, but in some degree it will also be counter-balanced by teams attending more races (although probably only marginally).

 

[Alexandre B.]

I hope they'll do the same for the Worlds.

7 for the 10-best nations, 5 for the ten next, 3, then 1.

 

[Echoes]

Re:

Classic UCI. Waits until most of the transfers are complete to announce that teams don't need as many riders. :lol:

Team still need as many riders. It simply means that they now have the freedom to send riders to more races.

Madiot regretted not being able to send a squad to races he formerly was a part of. For the first time in 20 years there was no Française des Jeux team in the Three-Days of De Panne. All this because of this stupid extended World Tour and because of the weights of the GT's ...

 

[RedheadDane]

Glad they're doing it like this, and not what Ochowicz wanted; by getting rid of the Wild Card teams.
It's not exactly news, though, is it? UCI wanted it to be starting with this season, but the teams basically went: "Erm... could we have a little more time to prepare for this?" and it was agreed to postpone it for 2018.

 

[hrotha]

My two cents: this measure will NOT improve the safety of anyone involved, but in the long term will cost some riders their job as overall team sizes will likely shrink.

Possibly, but in some degree it will also be counter-balanced by teams attending more races (although probably only marginally).

I honestly doubt teams will start showing up to races they're not interested in just to give their filler riders more racing days.

I'm almost sure this will result in people losing their jobs, but oh well, it's completely necessary.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Ha, safety of spectators? How about just calling it as it is, better racing.. while I applaud this new rule change, its also a pretty late one once again. I imagine some teams woulda like to known before signing riders.

It will indeed be interesting to see whether teams will race the same races as always or add a few to make their younger riders race a bit more. I hope for the latter so it can minimise the lost jobs.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

Good decision. Not for safety, but for the racing

Doesn't make much of a difference I reckon. Sky will still dominate.

 

[Echoes]

Dominate what?

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

Dominate what?

Basically every meaningful stage race on the calendar?

 

[Durden93]

Good decision. Should make racing less controlled.

 

[Netserk]

My two cents: this measure will NOT improve the safety of anyone involved, but in the long term will cost some riders their job as overall team sizes will likely shrink.

Possibly, but in some degree it will also be counter-balanced by teams attending more races (although probably only marginally).

I honestly doubt teams will start showing up to races they're not interested in just to give their filler riders more racing days.

I'm almost sure this will result in people losing their jobs, but oh well, it's completely necessary.

That's what the qualifier is for, but I do think that it will happen. It could also be counter-balanced by (some of the) riders having less race days over the season. Still, I agree that the biggest effect will probably be on squad reductions, as that's where the money is at.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Good decision. Not for safety, but for the racing

Yep

 

[TMP402]

Cannondale are happy.

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

Dominate what?

Basically every meaningful stage race on the calendar?

Mauro Vegni probably isn't happy with your definition of "meaningful."

 

[ice&fire]

Having less riders per race does not release team resources such as cars and support staff for attending more races, unless the limiting factor for not attending more races is only the number of scheduled race days per rider.

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

Good decision. Not for safety, but for the racing

I really don't it making much difference to the racing. This year, the Classics were already a very attacking and uncontrolled affair, and in the GT's, Sky have already proven they don't need 9 men and even if it does reduce their horse power a bit, they will just let the breakaway get the stage. A smaller bunch should mean more safety in theory though. I think reducing the number of moto's and other race vehicles might be more effective, as well as less technical finishes and descents, but somewhere needs to be a line that distinguishes what is part of racing and what isn't.

 

[GraftPunk]

It's a far better decision for safety than mandatory helmet. It should be less stressful for the riders. However there's still more needed than just that. For entertainment it's also good but an awful lot more is needed in this respect.

Worth mentioning. Schaal Sels organiser Ben Simons made the experience last year. Maximum 6 riders per team. Not extended to this year though.

And even if it comes from the UCI, honesty commands to say that it's a good decision going in the right direction.

I can't tell if that is a troll attempt or not...

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Good decision. Not for safety, but for the racing

I really don't it making much difference to the racing. This year, the Classics were already a very attacking and uncontrolled affair, and in the GT's, Sky have already proven they don't need 9 men and even if it does reduce their horse power a bit, they will just let the breakaway get the stage. A smaller bunch should mean more safety in theory though. I think reducing the number of moto's and other race vehicles might be more effective, as well as less technical finishes and descents, but somewhere needs to be a line that distinguishes what is part of racing and what isn't.

You are right, Sky managed to control the Tour and the Vuelta to an extreme extent without Thomas in the Tour and pretty much without Rosa in the Vuelta.

 

[Netserk]

It's hardly a given that making the team one man less will mean that it's the one who's off that isn't selected. If they were to only pick 8 this year, Thomas would still have been selected.