UCI to ban supertuck descending starting April 1st.

Page 11 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Apr 30, 2011
47,071
29,679
28,180
DpykkLL.png
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Sandisfan
Mar 4, 2011
8,424
11,149
23,180
Ouch. Is he out?
I can’t tell if he’s sitting on the top tube or the saddle. Isn’t that position still okay as long as you’re not sitting on the top tube? I’ve seen enough riders descending with the “old” hands on top of bars, chest on top of hands, butt in the air aero position since April 1 (which, BTW, seems less stable than the supertuck). I just assumed they went back to that older position cause that is still allowed?
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Sandisfan
Sep 26, 2020
25,324
27,818
23,180
I can’t tell if he’s sitting on the top tube or the saddle. Isn’t that position still okay as long as you’re not sitting on the top tube? I’ve seen enough riders descending with the “old” hands on top of bars, chest on top of hands, butt in the air aero position since April 1 (which, BTW, seems less stable than the supertuck). I just assumed they went back to that older position cause that is still allowed?

Watching it back, I think he was just touching the saddle, at least he was when rode past the moto right before this shot was taken.
 
Sep 29, 2013
2,064
1,823
14,680
Position 1.3.008 The rider shall normally assume a sitting position on the bicycle. This position requires that the only points of support are the following: the feet on the pedals, the hands on the handlebars and the seat on the saddle.

Riders must observe the standard position as defined by article 1.3.008. Sitting on the bicycle’s top tube is prohibited. Furthermore, using the forearms as a point of support on the handlebar is prohibited except in time trials.

One can also say that his chest was touching the handlebars which would also break the rules.

He was trying to go around the rules. It was the right decision to desqualify him. I also disagree with the existence of this rule, but if it exists, it must be followed.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Sandisfan
May 29, 2019
11,131
11,659
23,180
Rules are meant to be broken. This are man, not children.

P.S. I am not saying anarchy is what we shall all be after. Sane people always follow sane rules and do that without much issues. Still when incompetent people start to make rules, that shouldn't be defended in any way.
 
Feb 18, 2015
13,818
9,804
28,180
I don't know if "rules are meant to be broken" is all a very good approach for sports...
 
It is very poor legislation to prescribe what something "normally" is. If his chest is on the handlebars for 49% of the race, then "normally" it is not, so that is OK. The explicitly forbidden positions don't refer to chest on handlebars (but that sounds very risky to me)
 
Feb 18, 2015
13,818
9,804
28,180
I think it's very clear that if a rider thinks he can do what Carapaz did yesterday to avoid punishment for a rule that was meant to make cycling safer, then the rule badly needs to be adjusted.

But I think it's almost just as clear that a rule we have the kind of discussion about that we do now must be a pretty stupid rule. I mean, wtf is this? Do we seriously need to discuss whether a rider should or should not be disqualified for descending in a position that might or might not be illegal due to his upper body being positioned a few centimetres too high or too low, for five f*cking seconds? If Roglic leads the Tour by 5 minutes on stage 20 and on a descent instinctively goes into the super tuck for 2 seconds before he realizes that's actually forbidden now, will they seriously kick him out of the race? If no, then can you justify ever kicking anyone out of a race for super tucking?

It's just nonsense. We shouldn't be having these sort of discussions because of rules nobody needed or wanted and I honestly hope the rule will get dropped again.
 
Feb 1, 2011
9,403
2,275
20,680
It's just nonsense. We shouldn't be having these sort of discussions because of rules nobody needed or wanted and I honestly hope the rule will get dropped again.

And if you have a rule like that, I mean, make it a fine if you must or maybe a points deduction or time penalty. But instant DQ is the nuclear option. Are we going to DQ a rider for getting a push from a fan or taking a long draft from the team car after a mechanical too now?
 
May 29, 2019
11,131
11,659
23,180
I don't know if "rules are meant to be broken" is all a very good approach for sports...

If i travel 1000 km to a race i still want to at least have an illusion i am bringing a bottle back home. When i am riding a bike i want to be relaxed. Not stiff, thinking if i will break any rules, by putting my ass on the line.

It's just ridiculous defending this from perspective of improving rider safety or saving the planet.

If they would decide it is illegal to stand on one leg while stretching the back. We would have this same debate, some actually having the nerve to defend it.

Can somebody in the future crash, using some position on a bike. Sure it can but that doesn't change anything. That just comes with the sport and you can't do much about it.

What you can do, being UCI, is to not allow dangerous sprint on a race that had a mayor accident last year. And after have a nerve to claim you are not responsible in any way when people get butchered.

We see this all the time in real life. People not having real power to change anything substantial being under pressure. They still want to give the illusion of power by making things ridiculous.
 
Feb 20, 2012
53,883
44,271
28,180
I think it's very clear that if a rider thinks he can do what Carapaz did yesterday to avoid punishment for a rule that was meant to make cycling safer, then the rule badly needs to be adjusted.

But I think it's almost just as clear that a rule we have the kind of discussion about that we do now must be a pretty stupid rule. I mean, wtf is this? Do we seriously need to discuss whether a rider should or should not be disqualified for descending in a position that might or might not be illegal due to his upper body being positioned a few centimetres too high or too low, for five f*cking seconds? If Roglic leads the Tour by 5 minutes on stage 20 and on a descent instinctively goes into the super tuck for 2 seconds before he realizes that's actually forbidden now, will they seriously kick him out of the race? If no, then can you justify ever kicking anyone out of a race for super tucking?

It's just nonsense. We shouldn't be having these sort of discussions because of rules nobody needed or wanted and I honestly hope the rule will get dropped again.
Stage race vs One day race punishments.

And yeah we spoke about how re** this was from the get go now we're just dealing with the natural consequences and arguing about which is the less re**** option.
 
May 5, 2010
51,664
30,219
28,180
They need to make the distinction asap, between a rider riding solo (and risking nobody's but his own safety) and a rider in group. Same with the arms on the bar in TT fashion. The entire "but kids will copy it" is such BS. That's were parenting and coaching comes in. Ban it from youth races if need be. But both measures are against the breakaway rider, against offensive cycling.

Carapaz was solo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
May 5, 2010
51,664
30,219
28,180

And if the UCI can't figure that out... I'm a little worried. I would hope the UCI has at least one employee who posseses the ability to count to more than one.
But more, I think the main reason we rarely heard about anyone attempting supertucking while in a group, is because the other riders would tell whoever tried it to stop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Nov 16, 2013
26,686
27,790
28,180
And if the UCI can't figure that out... I'm a little worried. I would hope the UCI has at least one employee who posseses the ability to count to more than one.
But more, I think the main reason we rarely heard about anyone attempting supertucking while in a group, is because the other riders would tell whoever tried it to stop.

The front riders of the group did it quite often...?