PAVIA – The new regulation UCI referring to supplies, it is creating more than one embarrassment and definitely a lot of bad feelings. The new rule provides that the teams will no longer be responsible for identifying the place where bags and water bottles will be distributed in the designated section of the road, but you must stop at specific points established by the organizers at the request of the UCI.
At the Tirreno-Adriatico a downhill refueling made the managers on the flagships tremble and made the phase that For years, attempts have been made to make it less dangerousWith this rule, which is said to have been wanted by the French and professional teams, the feeling is that we have gone backwards. The reason is easily explained and would aim to theoretically reduce the advantages deriving from the superiority of some budgetsIf refueling points are fixed for everyone, those with more vans, more flagships, and more staff will not be able to benefit. Park where indicated and no exceptions are allowed..
The points are identified by the course inspectors of the company organizing the race, based on the indicated mileage. It's about finding a stretch of road where 25 vehicles can park. – flagships or vans – where there are no parked cars or crowds of fans. RCS Sport usually allocates a one-kilometer stretch of road to accommodate both the refueling station and the green area for waste disposal.
Is it really all wrong?
The rule doesn't convince anyone. Tirreno-Adriatico we had talked about it with Yankee Germano, masseur at Soudal-Quick Step.
«From this year – he explained to us – it is no longer like in the past, when the sports directors in their meetings decided the points where to go to get supplies and so you found team cars scattered all over the route. From this year the UCI has put very specific points where all the teams are forced to gather. Essentially, not much has changed, because there are still plenty of spots. We masseurs perhaps have less risk, because there's no longer a rush to get the best spot."
Less risk: could it be true?
The Venetian masseur's point of view contradicts the sentiments expressed at the recent meeting of sporting directors. Some coaches argue that having such a limited stretch of road, the competition between crews to grab the best slice is even more wild. It's clear that those who lead the teams always push to the max, while those who follow orders stick to them, putting a good face on a bad situation.
«The race for the best position – continues German – It was worse before. There was a car every 20 kilometers, so sometimes you had to take some risks to get there on time. The riders increase their averages and therefore it is not always easy to reach the place before themBecause once we arrive, we also have to share our location on the devices we have with us, so the sports director can see where we are and communicate it to the riders. Let's say they were a bit hectic phases.».
The choice of locations
The reasoning holds up, but it breaks down on some path choices. The organizers would gladly do without even deciding the points where the teams will stop for refueling, but since it's a UCI regulation, they have no alternative. They usually prefer spots with parking, so as not to inconvenience the areas they pass through. It's one thing to have 25 cars scattered along the route, but it's quite another to have them all together on the same stretch of road.
At the sports directors' meeting held at 16 p.m. at the Pavia Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Jury outlined the rules for tomorrow's match.Refueling must be carried out at the designated points – said Gabriel Berthelot – and it is not possible to refuel with bags and water bottles outside of these. And please remind your riders to also respect the litter zone, that is, the area where waste is thrown away."
Refueling at kilometer 192
At that point, given the possible request for questions, the audience came Kim Andersen's question, sports director of Lidl Trek, sitting in the front row with Adriano Baffi that holds the top spot. "The refueling point at kilometer 192 is downhill "He said, "while a kilometer earlier you go uphill. Doing it downhill risks causing falls. Couldn't you move it up a kilometer?"
The answer came from Stefano Allocchio, race director: «We put it on a long stretch of flat land at the bottom of the descent – he said – where there's room for cars, which wouldn't be there on the way up. Between us, I'm convinced that last year was better, but it's a UCI decision and there's not much we can do about it.We are negotiating with the various authorities to introduce a parking ban in those areas next year, but it's a concession that isn't so easy to obtain in Italy."
The solution has been found
The answer, however, didn't convince the Lidl-Trek technicians, who, through Adriano Baffi, pressed the President of the Jury again. "Is it possible," asked the former athlete from Crema, " park below, in the designated area, and send the masseurs on foot up the hill, to refuel there?
Berthelot listened and didn't insist too much, having understood that certain decisions cannot be taken at the expense of the teams, without listening to their requests. Even more so in this experimental phase. "Only for this point," he said, " we allow the possibility of refueling in the 2 previous and 2 subsequent kilometers. Provided, however, that the staff moves on foot and parks in the designated area. I know it's very difficult for the teams this year., but by talking it is possible to find the solution".
The meeting for the Giro d'Italia
The refueling point at kilometre 192 is the fifth in the Milan-Sanremo race, which starts tomorrow morning at 10:15 from Pavia. It is located between Vado Ligure and Spotorno, 2 kilometers before entering the townThe other supplies are found at kilometers 38-123-164-227-266. The last one litter zone, that is, the point where waste is thrown away, is found instead at the entrance to Poggio.
The collaboration between the Jury, Race Management and sports groups led to the management and resolution of a critical issue. In the meeting that took place yesterday evening between the team and RCS Sport talking about the Giro d'Italia, the topic of supplies was addressed in great detailWho knows, maybe the UCI will decide to listen to those it governs. The feeling is that sometimes these organizations take a direction without the desire to share the details. Just as the FCI had established some time ago mandatory membership for journalistsSometimes it would just be enough put the need to be managed on a common table and find the best solution together.
