UCI and rule application.

[AmyRichardson]

I recently bought a new groupo online and my cycling feeds have increased... This came up this morning:

https://road.cc/content/news/cyclist-disqualified-...

Followed the rabbit hole into a couple of forums.

Is this really how the UCI normally works?

Those of us used to controversy in motorsport are used to the rules being stretched, and practices that are contrary to the spirit of a regulation but demonstrably adherent to the wording of a regulation are allowed. Yes, regulatory bodies do retrospectively alter the rules where wording is poor or allows for an unforeseen & unwanted innovation, but they apply the rules of the day in a legalistic fashion. And to my mind it has to be that way.

So, does the UCI (as I've seen noted on a couple of forums) really do "self interpretation"? That sounds awful, opening up a whole can of worms whereby certain favoured teams/riders can get away with more than other. As UCI isn't exactly a peon to  straight-play to start with, one would think they'd be keen to close-down such opportunities (or not, depending on how you look at it...)

[z4RRSchris]

the UCI generally make stuff up as they go along.