Cycling: Suddenly everything happened very quickly. During the World Championships in Bergen it was announced that the number of riders per team in all international UCI races will be reduced in 2018. For the big state tours, only eight starters per team will be nominated instead of the previous nine. What are the pros and cons of this rule change?
Pros: More security & less control
In the future, only eight riders per team will start at the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. Instead of the 198 professionals nominated so far, 176 are now making the three-week journey. The rule change also applies to smaller tours and one-day races. So far eight riders per team pedaled, now there are only seven. The UCI gave two main reasons for the adjustment. A smaller field should ensure more security. In addition, it is expected that the race will no longer be so easy to control. Images of a dominating sky train, for example, should be a thing of the past. In the press release it is written: "In order to improve the safety of the riders, the spectators and the race convoy, the UCI Management Committee has decided to limit the peloton size."
Cons: Fewer professionals & simpler goals
In addition to the advantages mentioned, the rule change also has some disadvantages. The rosters of the teams will definitely be reduced significantly in the coming years. Experts estimate that up to five fewer drivers will be needed per season as a result of the changeover. The young talents are already having a hard time gaining a foothold in the WorldTour. The hurdle should now have become even bigger. The change will also make teams formulate simpler goals. Driving on green and yellow or mass sprints and mountain jersey becomes almost impossible with one man less, especially on the Grand Tours. Less control does not necessarily have to be a positive thing. Many cycling fans also doubt that downsizing the teams will ensure more safety. Whether 198 or 176 riders are close together in a group makes little difference.
Cancellara's suggestion: Are smaller tours the solution?
Even Fabian Cancellara spoke critically to Velomotion on this topic – even before the rule changes were clear: “You can do eight racers and two weeks. Because it's currently three weeks and nine racers. It makes a difference whether you go with eight or nine people for three or two weeks. Of course you need help from there. You have to discuss everything, not just six or eight racers or two or three weeks. I think the Tour makes it a little easy to say eight racers means less control.”