Cycle Tour pros in sanction firing line

Cyclists taking part in event subject to disciplinary action

AN AXE will be hanging over the heads of pro riders who take part in this year’s Cape Town Cycle Tour. This was after the international cycling body confirmed this weekend that licensed cyclists taking part in the unsanctioned event “are subject to disciplinary sanctions”.

In an e-mail sent to Cycling SA’s management, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) wrote that it would be enforcing its “forbidden races rule” in a bid to protect the hard work and resources national sporting federations poured into the development of events.

The rule states: “No licence holder may participate in an event that has not been included on a national, continental or world calendar or that has not been recognised by a national federation, a continental confederation or the UCI.”

This means that last year’s winners of the Cycle Tour, Nolan Hoffman and Cherise Stander, would not be allowed to defend their titles.

Big names such as British Tour de France veteran Mark Cavendish is said to be reconsidering his participation in the world’s biggest timed cycling event.

Taking part in the race could result in a fine of R1 200 and a 30-day suspension from events sanctioned by the UCI.

There was widespread outrage after Cycling SA sent out an e-mail last week warning riders about the rule.

The Pedal Power Association, which helps organise the Cycle Tour, said it was “baffled” by the national body’s decision to persecute riders.

Last year, after a prolonged court battle with Cycling SA, the association won its appeal to host its events, including the Cape Town Cycle Tour, without requiring sanctioning by the national body.

Association chairman Steve Hayward said they refused to be sanctioned as they would be required to pay over a levy to the national body.

He said the money, which the national body uses to fund the sport, was an unfair tax on riders taking part in the Cycle Tour.

The association consequently entered into an agreement with Western Cape Cycling, an affiliate of Western Province Cycling Association (WPCA), to sanction the elite portion of its race. But WPCA chairman Graham Ward said he could not understand why the Pedal Power Association had entered into an agreement, because the association had fought long and hard not to require sanctioning.

Cycling SA general manager Mike Bradley wrote in an e-mail following the confirmation from UCI that because the Cycle Tour was not sanctioned, the national body’s “hands are firmly tied”.

“We cannot agree to an agreement that protects some,” the Pedal Power Association had requested for sanctioning just for the elite portion of its race, “but sanctions more.”