Alex says: The UCI wants to ruin our national championships...

The UCI has recently re-introduced the rule whereby anyone who wins the national champion must wear the national champions jersey during every subsequent timed run and on every podium.

The national champion's jersey has very limited space for sponsor logos and often doesn't fit with the team strip. That means that the rider's sponsors get less exposure during the times that their riders are most likely to be seen. As a result, just as a few years ago, team managers will either remove their riders from the national championships, or instruct their riders not to win. This makes a mockery of our national championship races.

We've already seen Sam Hill mysteriously crash yards away from the finish line of the Australian National Champs whilst half a second up. Team orders or accident?

For the past few years, riders have worn an arm band consisting of their national federation's colours if they are national champion, and that's worked. Why the UCI had to change it back to the bad old ways, we do not know, but it's damned silly.

Bottom line: If you want to see a national champ, not a national chump, you need to sign this petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/UCIrule/petition.html


Alex

The above represents the view of the writer and does not necessarily represent the view of Racersguild.co.uk