Team mechanic told to dress up as rider and race Belgian event - UCI takes disciplinary action against Cynisca Cycling Team after wild fraud case

If there was no margin, you might be right one day but seeing as the rules said at least 5 riders, the team just seems to have managed to organised themselves badly. As a manager, I’d always consider that at least one rider could be a non-starter for whatever reason, so would always have a spare.

Besides, by presenting the article as fun, everyone ignores the possible implication of what was done. The mechanic is probably not licensed to ride in that category or maybe at all, what would happen if they ended up on the podium, or causing an accident or in case of severe injury, how do you imagine the insurance company would treat such a situation. Less important competitions have faced such problems, men disguised as women, little boys winning women’s competitions, spectators disabled by rider crashes where civil courts had to decide if the event was a race or not (the organisers suddenly made as if it wasn’t but had published results with positions and times so lost the case, luckily for the rider who crashed into someone crossing the road) in order to know who would be responsible for damages, etc.

Even if we think they are stupid, there are usually good not always obvious reasons for rules, that often get added after problematic experiences show a need for them.

2 years out of the sport? Far too harsh!

Be wary UCI, strict adherence to the rules inspite of legitimate reasons will lead to the absurd situation of sick and injured riders forced to be at the start line to meet the quota.🤦🤦🤦