Good news if you’re in the market for a new motorhome – Team Sky may be about to put theirs on the market after the UCI banned any teams from using anything other than the hotels provided.
Richie Porte had been the guinea pig for the spacious and luxurious campervan at the Giro d’Italia, as Sky rolled out their latest ‘marginal gain’. The team said they were ensuring their team leader wasn’t left shacked up in a dodgy hotel room like his rivals.
But the UCI was having none of it. Buried deep in a press release issued late on Friday evening, cycling’s governing body said Chris Froome and co must slum it like their domestiques.
Article 2.2.010 of the UCI Regulations now reads: “In all road stage races on the international calendar, the organisers must cover the subsistence expenses of the teams from the night before the start to the final day; riders must stay in the hotels provided by the organiser throughout the entire duration of the race”.
And the UCI insist: “The decision was made in order to reaffirm absolute fairness between all riders. The amended article comes into force immediately.”
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With the cost of housing the hundreds of riders and staff that come with the modern-day Tour de France funding is probably a bit tight for the ASO, pretty much ruling out the 5* pads Premier League footballers would find themselves in before a game.
The decision didn’t go down well with Froome, while Twitter was its usual excellent self in deriding the new ruling.
#FBF to that time I slept on the floor at the TDF.. More of that this year! Good going @UCI_cycling 👍 #progress 😏 pic.twitter.com/xAN1yaynbP
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) June 19, 2015
Helpful recap: your socks can't be too high, and you can't sleep in a motorhome, but if you're careful you'll probably get away with doping
— Bill Strickland (@TrueBS) June 19, 2015
For sale: one motorhome, low mileage, very well-maintained. Selling due to change in circumstance https://t.co/wahdY5xh15
— Alex Murray (@leguape) June 19, 2015
https://twitter.com/ProCyclingStats/status/611992030177312768
>>> Comment: Why Richie Porte’s motorhome is bound to catch on
The ruling will also affect Alberto Contador if the he ever rides another Giro d’Italia. The Spaniard enjoyed a night at team owner Oleg Tinkov’s luxury villa on one night of this year’s race.
Tinkov’s may as well put the ‘For Sale’ sign up now.
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