Race radio conflict continues to simmer

The conflict between the UCI and professional cycling teams over the use of race radios continues to simmer in Belgium this weekend.

The professional cyclists’ association — the AIGCP — has long opposed the UCI’s decision to ban radios from all but the top races in the sport, a feud that boiled over at the Challenge Mallorca last month when the riders insisted on using radios and the UCI responded by pulling its officials from the race. In the end Tyler Farrar’s victory was declared null and void.

The AIGCP was planning a similar move at the Omloop Het Niewsblad in Belgium on Saturday — where Canadian Michael Barry is competing — but backed down when the UCI again said it would pull its officials, which would have resulted in the cancellation of the race for insurance reasons.

“The majority of teams (18-2) and riders would like to continue using radios. However, we won’t ruin monuments of sport to make our point,” wrote AIGCP president Jonathan Vaughters on Twitter  Friday.

The UCI argues that race radios make racing boring and predictable, because the team directors can feed riders information and tell them what to do. The teams say the radios make racing safer because directors don’t have to drive up to the peloton to speak with their riders, and they can react faster to crashes and punctures.

The UCI has reportedly promised to review its decision on radios, but gave no timeline.