Soudal-QuickStep boss Patrick Lefevere has complained that it is ‘raining fines’ and joked that the UCI is ‘in need of money’ after Julian Alaphilippe was sanctioned for eradicating his helmet at Tirreno-Adriatico.
The 2-time world champion broke the principles when he modified clothes on stage 4 of the Italian stage race, eradicating his helmet briefly in order that he may take away a base layer on the fly with 80km to go.
Alaphilippe was slapped with a nice of 500 Swiss Francs, which led to his QuickStep boss to lash out in his weekend column for Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab).
“Wind in Paris-Good and Tirreno-Adriatico, however I discover that it’s also raining. The fines from the UCI are falling out of the blue this 12 months,” Lefevere wrote.
“How lengthy wouldn’t it have taken [for Alaphilippe to change clothing]? Most 5 minutes. That may be a price of 100 Swiss Francs per minute.”
The UCI’s rules state {that a} rider taking off their helmet throughout a race needs to be punished with a “CHF 200 nice and elimination or disqualification”, which might recommend Alaphilippe paid over the percentages however was arguably fortunate to stay within the race. As an alternative, he seems to have been punished underneath the part of the rules that covers ‘harm to the picture of biking’.
In any case, Lefevere wasn’t completely happy, in flip criticising the UCI over security situations at Paris-Good on Thursday.
“I am not going to say that the UCI ought to applaud when a rider takes off his helmet – we should not reduce security – however does the federation additionally impose a nice on itself if a bollard all of the sudden stands alongside the street within the final kilometre of Paris-Good? I didn’t see that on the official communiqué.”
Lefevere advised the governing physique is “in need of money” as he famous a rise in fines for infractions which will have been met with a blind eye previously.
He referred to James Knox’s disqualification from the latest Tour Down Below for drafting a automotive, regardless of having crashed and needing to endure a concussion take a look at, whereas he introduced up one other Alaphilippe instance from when the Frenchman misplaced the yellow jersey on the 2020 Tour de France after taking a bottle simply past the designated feed zone.
“The issue of VAR in soccer additionally exists within the jury automotive for me. There are too few individuals with sensible expertise who can accurately assess race conditions,” Lefevere wrote.
“What’s breakdown restoration and what’s forgery? A former rider has a greater really feel for that than somebody who has by no means raced. In all modesty, if I see somebody hanging from the again of a automotive with a sticking brake – the oldest trick within the guide – I do know pretty shortly whether or not there’s a actual downside or whether or not somebody needs to trip 60km/h as an alternative of 40.
“My recommendation to retired riders who wish to ‘preserve doing one thing within the race’: observe a UCI commissaire course.”
