"Whoever hands out yellow cards will have to be able to judge well what is and isn't acceptable" - Greg Van Avermaet weighs in on yellow card debate

Greg Van Avermaet has shared his thoughts on the use of yellow cards in cycling, a rule introduced last summer to enhance safety in the sport and punish those who don’t compete within the regulations. But has it been successful?

The discussion arose after stage 1 of the UAE Tour, where Jasper Philipsen was demoted following the finish due to what the UCI deemed a dangerous sprint. The decision reignited debate on the effectiveness and clarity of the yellow card system, as well as its ability to actually increase rider safety.

Speaking on the Sporza Daily podcast, Van Avermaet commented, "The Philipsen case is an interesting situation."

"It was a typical reaction of disappointment, where he swerved. It's difficult to estimate, but I wouldn't declassify him anyway. The sprint had been completed and the speed wasn't too high. But in other situations, it could have been yellow."

Van Avermaet acknowledged the challenge in fairly distributing penalties. "Whoever hands out yellow cards will have to be able to judge well what is and isn't acceptable."

The former Olympic champion believes that the role of former professional cyclists is crucial in these decisions. "It is important that former riders decide on these kinds of matters. They have been in these kinds of situations themselves and can assess it better. If you have not done it yourself, it is difficult to judge it," he stated.

The controversy surrounding Philipsen is not new. His sprinting has been criticised on multiple occasions, including at the 2023 and 2024 Tour de France, where he was accused of dangerous manoeuvres.

At 26 years old, Philipsen is arguably the best sprinter in the world, boasting nine Tour de France stage wins and a Vuelta a Espana stage victory. However, his aggressive sprinting style continues to divide opinion, making the enforcement of safety rules all the more significant as 2025 goes on.