[Wumpus]

The UCI has announced the outcomes of its Management Committee meeting yesterday in Lugano, Switzerland, which include accepting the UCI Road Commission's recommendation to gradually phase out the use of two-way radio for all categories of rider.

There were also decisions made regarding personnel of the UCI's ProTour Coucil, with Liquigas boss Roberto Amadio and Garmin-Slipstream general manager Jonathan Vaughters appointed as team representatives.

It's the move to gradually eliminate the use of radios in races that will surely cause the most comment, however. The two-stage trial of racing without radios during this year's Tour de France was treated with disinterest at best amongst teams, with some riders and managers expressing contempt for the idea.

The UCI is pressing on with the reform regardless. "The members were of the opinion that two-way radio distorts the nature of cycle sport. They also took into account the desire expressed by the majority of those involved in cycling to prohibit the equipment," said an official UCI press release issued today.

It's been stated that a calendar will be drawn up to provide a timeline for the phasing out of radios.

 

[ire]

I saw that this morning. It will be interesting to see who has trouble focusing without a team manager telling them what to do. The place I could see the biggest impact would be the spring classics when the peleton splits into many groups.

 

[gonefirefightin]

There is no need for radios with the advent of the modern cycling computers ayways. the amount of data that gets streamed into those things for each stage is simply amazing.

I think it would be a great move and get things back to roots racing

 

[Westy]

Teams can still settle back and get orders from a team car and there are still the motos with splits on the chalkboards. The only thing it will really affect is dropping back to help a teammate who crashed or flatted.

 

[maddog17]

There is no need for radios with the advent of the modern cycling computers ayways. the amount of data that gets streamed into those things for each stage is simply amazing.

I think it would be a great move and get things back to roots racing

 

[sanjuro]

I hope they get rid of the derailleur next. Shifting has really killed the sport.

 

[sanjuro]

Teams can still settle back and get orders from a team car and there are still the motos with splits on the chalkboards. The only thing it will really affect is dropping back to help a teammate who crashed or flatted.

There is one car per team, and there is a paceline for them as well.

So if your team car is 10 cars back, and you need to drop down to be told to move up, guess what happens?

Or what if one of your riders goes off the front but your leader is back? Who do you follow?

Or what happens if a cow is stuck in the road? Or a stalled vehicle? Or a protest covers the road?

 

[Westy]

There is one car per team, and there is a paceline for them as well.

So if your team car is 10 cars back, and you need to drop down to be told to move up, guess what happens?
ATTACK!


Or what if one of your riders goes off the front but your leader is back? Who do you follow?
ATTACK!

Or what happens if a cow is stuck in the road? Or a stalled vehicle? Or a protest covers the road?
ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK!

Answers in Bold.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Answers in Bold.

Yes.



5

 

[loco-gringo]

I agree that they don't really hurt anything. I guess since they can't stop doping, they have to settle for some sort of victory.

 

[JRogers]

Saw this today too... I doubt it will have a huge impact on the racing in a lot of situations. Tactics are fairly predictable and splits can still be communicated, even if less effectively.

I'm not sure about the safety issue argument; when they had the debacle over the TdF radio ban some guys said it was problem others said it was not. To Sanjuro's point about guys dropping back to the car, etc.- part of the reason they are getting rid of the radios is so that riders have to be tactically smart on their own to win; they want to give the DSs less influence- they don't want them giving orders for everything.

I just hope it makes the racing more exciting. Guys might be willing to attack more, breaks might have better chances of success...

 

[ire]

Contador proved this year that he doesn't need a race radio....even when they were telling him not to attack he did anyway

 

[JRogers]

Contador proved this year that he doesn't need a race radio....even when they were telling him not to attack he did anyway

That's actually a good illustration of why getting rid of radios might be good. That early mountain stage (Arcalis?) was made more interesting and exciting by Contador's last minute surge.

 

[golgiaparatus]

There is no need for radios with the advent of the modern cycling computers ayways. the amount of data that gets streamed into those things for each stage is simply amazing.

I think it would be a great move and get things back to roots racing

Probably right... Flightdeck will have a new function, recieve simple orders from team car.

"Heads up guys... my flight deck is flashing "ATTACK MF'ER ATTACK".

 

[ire]

Probably right... Flightdeck will have a new function, recieve simple orders from team car.

"Heads up guys... my flight deck is flashing "ATTACK MF'ER ATTACK".

It could automatically shift the bike too! All of a sudden you drop a gear and attack flashes!

 

[OGRipper]

Michael Barry makes some good points supporting the ban on race radios:

http://www.velonews.com/article/98897/michael-barry-s-diary---the-peloton-unplugged

Although I see the safety argument being made by most of the directors, I agree that getting rid of radios would make for far more interesting racing and would even the playing field a bit. Most telling are Barry's comments about some of the younger guys in the peleton who lack even the most basic tactical skills.

 

[James]

Michael Barry makes some good points supporting the ban on race radios:

http://www.velonews.com/article/98897/michael-barry-s-diary---the-peloton-unplugged

Although I see the safety argument being made by most of the directors, I agree that getting rid of radios would make for far more interesting racing and would even the playing field a bit. Most telling are Barry's comments about some of the younger guys in the peleton who lack even the most basic tactical skills.

You don't have to look any further than the last TdF, where there was that direction change with the wind, the who gets caught out? Contador. Lance was up front, he could read the way the race was going to go. Things like that could happen more often with these changes.
I for one am all for it. Let's get some excitement back in racing! No more all-day breakaways that get caught 5k from the end, just in time for a sprint-off.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

I think they should ban carbon frames, aero tubes, indexed shifting, and clipless pedals while they are at it!

 

[dsotm]

You don't have to look any further than the last TdF, where there was that direction change with the wind, the who gets caught out? Contador. Lance was up front, he could read the way the race was going to go. Things like that could happen more often with these changes.
I for one am all for it. Let's get some excitement back in racing! No more all-day breakaways that get caught 5k from the end, just in time for a sprint-off.

Agreed

 

[oldfart]

I read an article earlier this year where the journalist was allowed in I think the Columbia team vehicle during a race. The DS and another coach were laughing about an earlier race where the race radis had failed. They started telling the riders what they missed, "..89 km ago there was a railroad crossing" .."at 41 km to go you would have seen xxxx attack and you should have gone with him." I think Boason Hagen won the race mostly with no radio available. They also were laughing about an early "training" stage race where you don't have to enter each stage. They had given instructions over the race radio numerous times to a rider who had sat out that stage.