Unless they follow the new safety standards of coronavirus, the UCI will slap teams, race organisers, and even drivers with penalties or other penalties.
The press release of the governing authority came on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the decision, teams that fail to provide proof of the rider’s diagnostic test will face fines decided by the UCI Disciplinary Commission and the rider will also be removed from the event. Organisations that do not comply with the long list of safety features of coronavirus face fines, severe warnings, and even possible removal from the UCI International Road Calendar.
“In the interests of all, everyone must play the game faced with the risk of the spread of the virus,” said UCI President David Lappartient in a release. “More than one and a half months after the publication of the protocol of procedures to be followed, and strengthened by improvements to the measures, it is important that all members of the road cycling family remain responsible for their actions. Respecting the requirements of the protocol is to act for the common good. At a crucial moment for our sport where, as we can see, the situation remains delicate, it is of the utmost importance to act more closely united and responsibly than ever.”
The news adds consistency to the UCI’s coronavirus safety rulebook that was published June 19 and enforced earlier this month when racing began. The manual sets guidelines for how teams and events will treat the return to racing, such as the definition of ‘bubble’ for groups, social distancing, mask-wearing, and minimal interaction on podium pre-and post-race ceremonies.
The updated guidelines come on the back of two high-profile events at the Vuelta a Burgos, which saw both the Israel Start-Up Nation and the UAE-Team Emirates pull riders out of the race because of their interaction with people who checked COVID-19 positively. Israel Start-Up Nation sent driver Itamar Einhorn home because he was in touch with a co-mate, Omer Goldstein, who tested COVID-19 positive. Thanks to his contact with Einhorn the team then pulled Alex Dowsett out of the race.
