In response to the International Cycling Union's (UCI) request to ban race radios in national calendar races, the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) Board of Trustees has amended the rule regarding the use of race radios, banning them in all USA Cycling sanctioned road and track races.
For 2010 race radios will only be allowed for use by teams and riders in UCI Category HC or Category 1 races in the U.S. per UCI regulations. This means that radio use will still be permitted in the Amgen Tour of California, Philadelphia International Championship and the Tour of Missouri should the event go forward this year.
Rule 1N6 is in effect immediately and now reads: “Riders may not use radios, telephones, or other such communication devices. No earpieces may be worn. Audio playback devices are expressly forbidden.”
USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson was happy with this latest decision that complements the actions by the sport's governing body. “I would like to thank the USCF Trustees for moving quickly in response to the request we received from the UCI," Johnson said in a press release.
“Although I think the jury is still out regarding the future of radios in our sport," he added, "given the current direction being set by the UCI indicating their intent to phase out radio usage across the board, we all agreed that it was important to make this adjustment now rather than later in the season.”