Paris (AFP)

"No half-measures": David Lappartient, president of the UCI, justifies the sanctions which will apply from April 1 for a risky position on the bike or an illegal throwing of a can, by the need for safety and the need for cycling to respect the environment.

"We can not continue to have as an image of the bike that when the bike passes, the environment passes away," stormed Thursday, in an interview with AFP, the president of the international federation.

QUESTION: Why did you change the rules on safety and the environment?

ANSWER: "We saw falls last year which led us to strengthen our measures. We had already done this the previous winter but it was obviously not enough. We worked together to improve the safety of the runners and all, in a professional and concerted manner. We wanted each of the families (organizers, teams, runners) to have new obligations. "

Q: For the organizers?

A: "For example, appointing a safety manager who will be trained by us. The UCI itself had things to improve. We recruited a safety manager (Richard Chassot), who was a runner and organizer, we all reviewed our internal processes. The idea is also to use new technologies to better identify routes, risk areas. There are more and more islands, baffles, which makes cycling very complicated, in particular in urbanized areas and it is a real danger. For runners, it is a little anxiety-provoking. "

Q: Several of them criticized the ban on adopting the Mohoric position on the bike (sitting position on the horizontal tube, editor's note) for their personal freedom ...

A: "We had the discussion with the riders. They tell us that if we leave this authorized position, it forces others to adopt it. They have no other choice. There is such a gain in CX (aero) and therefore speed that, if you don't do it, you are dropped on the descent. "

Q: What were the reasons for the UCI to prohibit the jets of canisters outside the load shedding zones?

A: "There is first of all the safety aspect, with the risk of falling in the peloton. The other aspect that should not be underestimated is the environment. We cannot continue to have as image of the bicycle that when the bicycle passes the environment dies. Strong measures had to be taken, which were unanimously approved. I recall that there were demonstrations when the UCI imposed the helmet (in 2003 Today it would never occur to anyone to start a race without a helmet. Tomorrow it will be the same for throwing bottles in nature or adopting a (risky) position on the bike. An evidence."

Q: Who will pronounce the sanction?

A: "The president of the jury. He will also be assisted by the video commissioner when it is visible. We will not be able to see everything, that's clear, but the penalties are quite stiff. In a one-day race, it's outside! We cannot do in half measures. It's like with the helmet, if we do not wear it we are out of the race. We cannot have a sport which has the wind in the back but which does not is not in keeping with the values ​​conveyed by cycling. "

Q: How will it be?

A: "The penalty is automatic if it is observed. The idea is to do it live, it is better than to downgrade then but it is not always possible. On the other hand, once the classification is pronounced, a bit like on a football field, we won't go back. If we get a video out the next day, we won't penalize a runner. "

Q: Were you surprised by the hostile reactions of some runners?

A: "The ones we hear above all are those who don't agree. But there are quite a few runners who find these decisions logical. They must be aware that if they have a good job, you have to have it. permission to use the public road. And, if the public road looks like a rubbish dump after the race, I am not convinced that we will continue to be allowed to go there for long. But I think that in a year , it won't even be a subject anymore. "

Interview by Jean MONTOIS

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