NOS Cycling•
The International Cycling Union UCI slightly adjusts the 3-kilometer rule in the final phase of seven stages in the Tour de France. With this, the UCI hopes to ensure more safety in the peloton.
The ‘safe zone’ is brought forward in seven stages. In this way, the classification men at four or five kilometers from the finish are already protected from a loss of time in the event of mechanical bad luck or a fall.
This creates more room for the sprinters and their helpers and the chance of accidents is slightly smaller, because fewer drivers are on top of each other in the hectic final kilometers.
3 kilometers-rule
The 3-kilometer rule has been introduced to protect riders in the event of a breakdown in the final phase of a stage. If there are mechanical problems or a fall, a cyclist will get the same time as the riders who were in the same group when an incident took place.
This rule is especially important for classification men in sprint stages. They can lower themselves from the head of the competition when they have reached the border.
The UCI has also announced that it will introduce several safety measures for other competitions, after the Tour de France.
Tracks na val
For example, the cycling federation wants to introduce a tracking system at the upcoming World Cup in Rwanda. With this, a fall from a rider cannot go unnoticed.
In recent years it has happened several times that a cyclist could hardly be traced after a fall, such as with the deceased Muriel Furrer. During the Tour of Switzerland she was in bushes along the road before she was found.
A protocol has also been made for how to act if a course is shut down due to extreme weather conditions or safety issues.
