Tour de France Femmes: UCI Cracks Down on Rule Violations
The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) is cracking down on rule violations at the Tour de France Femmes, issuing fines and time penalties to several riders and teams.
In a statement, officials warned that they will be conducting additional clothing checks before the stage 4 time trial, specifically targeting any non-essential elements or accessories that modify a rider's body shape. This includes padding inside clothing, additional material in skinsuits, and padding worn around the bust.
Riders who violate these rules can face fines of up to 100 Swiss francs, one-minute penalties, and UCI points deductions.
During stage 2, Lotto-Intermarché rider Dina Boels was fined 100 Swiss francs for drafting behind a car and received a one-minute penalty in the general classification. Her sports director Grace Verbeke also received a fine for failing to follow commissaires' instructions.