UCI introduce 'High Temperature Protocol' to protect riders on hottest days

As the peloton prepares to head to Australia for the Santos Tour Down Under, the UCI has introduced a new 'High Temperature Protocol' to protect riders in hot weather conditions.

The new protocol will give clear guidance on how temperature and humidity levels will affect riders, as well as give proposed measures for how race organisers can adapt to the conditions. The UCI say they have produced the protocol "in view of the climate changes that the world has been facing in recent years".

In a statement, the UCI said these measures could include, "moving start zones to shaded areas, supplying teams with cold drinks and crushed ice during the race, increasing the number of refuelling motorbikes, altering the start time or potentially neutralising sections of the race".

All proposals will simply be recommendations, though. Rather than strict enforcement, the protocol will work in much the same way as the 'Extreme Weather Protocol' introduced in 2015. Namely, if the conditions appear to be unsafe, the UCI will call together a working group of members of teams, riders and organisers, who will join the President of the Commissaires Panel to discuss the riders' health and safety.

"The health, safety and wellbeing of our cyclists are of the utmost importance," said UCI President David Lappartient. "That is why the UCI is continually working to respond to new situations and adapt its protocols in line with the changing environment in which cyclists evolve."