|
 Sep 29th, 09. Last week the UCI announced plans to phase out the use of 2-way race radios. Now one of New Zealand's top tour directors is thinking of proactively doing the same.
Sandoval looking to make changes to radio rules for 2010
Jorge Sandoval, Tour Director for both the Trust House Cycle Classic and the NZCT Women's Cycle Tour of New Zealand told RoadCycling.co.nz he is considering banning two-way radios for the 2010 events.
"I thought about this last year but did nothing. From my point of view, on tours like mine radios spoil the race and do nothing for the event and most of the riders," he said.
"Only 20% of riders have radios in our race, the rest have to think and make decisions as they go, not all NZ riders can afford to have radios so they are at a disadvantage right from the start."
The decision hasn't been made yet, Sandoval says he will speak to other people and will make the final call soon. From his point of view though, he wants the radios gone from 2010.
"Lots of New Zealand riders think they are "pros" so they love to look like one, some of them may complain but at the end of the day we have to do what is the best for the event and, taking into consideration that not everyone can have radios, I think we should ban them altogether."
Sandoval accepts this is a controversial issue but he believes it won't make a huge difference to the outcome of his tours.
"In any local race here in NZ 99% of riders never use radios and we still have a winner every race. In New Zealand, radios only work 40 - 50% of the time because of the hills and poor quality radios. I have been team manager of teams overseas and quite honestly trying to use radios is a waste of time," he said.
"I know it is a touchy subject but the UCI is making changes and for the first time I agree with them."
Reactions from the New Zealand cycling community
When the Tour de France trialled a stage without radios this year, the response was polarised. Some riders and management thought it was a good idea and allowed freer racing, others ridiculed the decision. Here in New Zealand reactions to the proposed ban seem just as spread.
RoadCycling.co.nz asked four people with different roles in the cycling community for their reactions to the possible radio ban.
Gordon McCauley - NZ Road Champion
New Zealand's current road champion Gordon McCauley agrees with Sandoval's direction. "I think they [radios] should be in the pro peloton, but here in NZ only the big teams have them making it an uneven playing field," he said. Ironically, McCauley races for one of those big teams, the Subway-Avanti Cycling Team.
Oli Brooke-White - Team Mechanic
"The safety aspect of being warned about upcoming hazards and/or rider misfortune can't be under-estimated," Brooke-WhiteOli Brooke-White, a mechanic for teams racing in events such as Sandoval's, has mixed feelings about the potential banning of the radios.
"As a cycling spectator, I think I'd like to see how it goes without radios, to see whether racing becomes slightly less controlled than it often is now. But as a race mechanic I would prefer they remain in use," he said.
"It's very hard to know what's going on in the convoy without some communication between car and riders, plus the safety aspect of being warned about upcoming hazards and/or rider misfortune can't be under-estimated."
Brooke-White does agree the poor radio reception in New Zealand goes someway towards negating the potential impact of a radio ban. "This was one of the factors that prevented Jazz Apples from getting Ruth Corset into a position to win this year's NZCT Women's Tour, although not the only factor," he said.
John Lee - Coach & Team Manager
"I think radios have become a luxury in cycling, not a must have," Lee John Lee, a cycling coach and manager, is used to managing U23 and junior teams where radios have never been allowed. "As a purest I would like to see the riders read a race and dictate the outcome of it," he said.
"I think riders need to learn positioning etc in feed zones, reading race handbooks. Anyway, they can just buy a Garmin 705 to run with their power meters and program all the race features in. In junior racing, radio contact with Comms is all that is needed to be called up to feed, or alerted to crashes etc, if you are even allowed to follow the race. I think radios have become a luxury in cycling, not a must have."
Steve Elden - Rider & Team Manager
"What will be next to go......no speedos, heart rate or power meters. How about no talking to team mates or other teams," EldenFinally, Steve Elden, who raced in last year's Trust House Classic and managed a team in the NZCT Women's Tour of New Zealand holds a different view. He fully supports radios.
"Tour de France/UCI has had the same trial this year and it wasn't well liked by riders and staff. Radio is a tool of the modern game/sport. It's great for race info/updates, course info, and as a teaching device for the younger ones who need guidance. Communication between the team is a good thing. Not all riders wear them, or need to wear them, but that is their choice," he said.
"I think no radios in cycling is in same request as if we were asked to stop using cell phones in public. Why? No advantage using them but a disadvantage banning them. What will be next to go......no speedos, heart rate or power meters. How about no talking to teammates or other teams. I don't see why you would ban them."
From the sample responses received it appears Sandoval will make some people happy and some unhappy regardless of the decision he makes.
Over and out.
Related article
|
Twitter
Facebook
RSS Feed
Google+
