"We shouldn't take the beauty out of sprinting" - Sprinters call for more strict, but above all fair and consistent awarding of yellow cards
Cycling
The UCI added yellow cards to its range of punishments that can be issued to riders and sports directors for against-the-rules behaviour during races. So far, the most controversy was sparked by the inconsistent judging of similar sprint incidents.
"If you get a yellow card, you're immediately on edge," Elmar Reinders, sprint preparer for Dylan Groenewegen at Team Jayco AIUIa, estimates the risks in a discussion on NOS. Tudor's sprinter Arvid De Kleijn adds: "Then you think twice."
When you get a yellow card and when only a fine or relegation - rules that also remain - is vague according to Reinders. "The most important thing is that there are clear rules. Not cheering when a teammate wins a bunch sprint, that is a clear rule." It earned Kaden Groves yellow in Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne.
"But what about keeping your line? When you come from behind, you always have to go left or right." Jasper Philipsen escaped yellow in the UAE Tour after a course deviation and the jury only put him back in the results, while Van Poppel did receive a card in a similar incident.
"We shouldn't take the beauty out of sprinting," says De Kleijn. "Everything goes to the limit. That's the beauty of sprinting. That's why people watch. Closing the door a little bit, that should be possible. It shouldn't be the case that absolutely nothing is allowed. If it gets really dangerous or someone pushes someone else towards the fences, then the yellow card is good for that."
"I haven't noticed any difference at all," says Cees Bol. "So far it hasn't really helped. But if I get two yellow cards, I might start the sprint a little differently. Behavioral change could still happen," adds De Kleijn.
Jury need to look farther than just final meters
According to Bol, there is too much emphasis on the behavior of riders and less on that of race organizers. "There are also rules about the course and they are simply not enforced properly. Two weeks ago there was a big crash because there was a speedbump in the last hundred meters. Someone came up with that and approved it. Jury members who let that happen cannot get cards."
Most of the yellow cards issued in relation to sprints were awarded for rider behaviour in final hunders of meters, something that doesn't seem fine to Reinders: "I think that the focus is mainly on the last 200 meters and not enough on the last five kilometers. Then a lot more people get fined. If you want to be strict and put cards on it, you have to do it the entire race, not just in the last 200 meters."
"What happens in the preparation of the sprint can sometimes be much crazier," De Kleijn agrees. "We are now mainly looking at the sprinters themselves and that is good, mind you, but Elmar is right. Before that, a lot of things happen that are sometimes unacceptable."
Bol suggests that the current jury members are often way out of touch with actual cycling. The XDS Astana rider suggests a solution: "Preferably a committee of former riders." And, adds de Kleijn: "Former sprinters who have acted at the highest level, who know what goes on in the peloton, what is beyond the limit and what is part of sprinting."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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