The UCI has granted an approval for earpieces to be banned on two stages of the Tour de France. Stage 10, a 193km stage from Limoges to Issoudun, held on Bastille Day, and Stage 13, 200km from Vittel to Colmar
"The management committee granted approval for earpieces to be banned on two stages," the International Cycling Union governing body said in a statement on Thursday.
Trialing the banning of radios has been debated for a few years, and should put the tactics back onto the team riders rather than the team director. Not good news for the sprinters though, as it makes it less likely the usual script of an all day breakaway being pulled back with couple of km to go for a sprint finish.
The mountain stage will be quite interesting without radio’s, the GC contendors will have to be attentive not give up to much time, and might be forced to more aggresive on that stage than they might otherwise have been.
Website: Tour de France
Website: Union Cycliste Internationale
