July 4/11 12:35 pm - UCI Clarifies Seat Position Rules

Posted by Editoress on 07/4/11
 

In light of yesterday's remarks from riders and team managers (fines were issued to some Team Managers after the incident) at the Tour de France TTT regarding officials' interpretation of rules on seat position the UCI has now issued the following clarification:


Seat position rules: explanation from the UCI

The UCI would like to clarify that Articles 1.3.004, 1.3.008 and 1.3.014 referring to technical specifications and innovations, in particular the seat position, will continue to be applied as per the UCI regulations. At the Tour de France on Sunday, UCI Commissaires reminded teams of the rule and required that irregularities be corrected.

The above mentioned articles came into effect in 2000. The UCI Sport Director and UCI Technical Coordinator attended the sport director’s meeting, on the occasion of the Critérium du Dauphiné and time trial early June 2011, to remind teams of the rules and their application. Ahead of this meeting the UCI had also sent a formal letter outlining that this would be the opportunity to check (in case of doubt) that all technical equipment (bicycles and accessories) meet UCI regulations.

Ten days before the Tour de France, the UCI followed up on this initiative by further sending a second letter outlining that during the Tour de France the UCI Commissaires would be strict in applying the rules in full (in particular with reference to the above mentioned articles). The letter was accompanied by a document listing equipment recommendations and providing technical rule reminders ahead of the Tour de France.

Article 1.3.008 outlines that the rider shall “normally assume a sitting position on the bicycle. This position requires that the only points of support are the following: the feet on the pedals, the hands on the handlebars and the seat on the saddle”. An additional point of support (such as lumbar support) which could be obtained by tilting the seat is not allowed. 

Article 1.3.014 further specifies that “The saddle support shall be horizontal. The length of the saddle shall be 24 cm minimum and 30 cm maximum”.

Finally the UCI regrets and will not accept uncalled for behavior from certain team directors in this regard, especially that of Mr. Johan Bruyneel and Mr. Jonathan Vaughters yesterday.

UCI Communications Services