The new rules for 2018

1 Teams reduced to eight in Grand Tours and seven in one-day and stage races. This is the big one, with the potential to add a new dynamic to some of the biggest races by making them more difficult to control for the biggest teams.

Inflatables will require two generators and two 2 blowers, and will be banned from 2022. With a collapsed flamme rouge having caused a crash for Adam Yates in the 2016 Tour, the UCI has tightened the regulations on large inflatables, before phasing them out completely in 2022.

3 Harsher penalties for ‘sticky bottles’. The timeworn bottle-based tug-of-war between rider and soigneur just got riskier, with new fines of up to £3,900 and a potential monthly ban. These penalties will also apply to riders who jump closed level crossings.

4 3km rule. Any rider involved in any ‘incident’, as opposed to just a crash, puncture or mechanical, now benefits from the 3km rule.

5 Harsh penalties for finishing outside time cut. Grand Tour points jersey contenders take note: missing the time cut will incur harsher penalties in 2018. Even riders in large groups could lose all their classification points.

6 Podium protocol tightened. Riders will now meet their adoring public in strict and slightly amended order.

7 No leaders’ jerseys on opening stages. You may have won the Tour last year, buddy, but this is 2018. Standard team kit on the first stage for you I’m afraid.

8 Compensation for cleared riders. Riders fired by their team for an offence they are later cleared of will get compensation.

9 No solo winners’ cars through the finish. A rider winning solo no longer gets to have his team car follow him through the finish. It has to turn off beforehand like the others.

10 Special kits planned further in advance Fashion crimes like polka-dot shorts and magenta shoes (and any other kit embellishment) will now have to be planned 60 days in advance, rather than 21. Which takes a certain confidence in a rider’s abilities.