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Page last updated at 15:03 GMT, Thursday, 24 September 2009 16:03 UK

Cycling body to ban race radios

British riders Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins
Britain's Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins on the stage 10 go-slow

The International Cycling Union is to stop riders from using two-way radios to talk with team bosses while racing.

Cycling's governing body banned the radios for stage 10 of the 2009 Tour de France in July, but teams showed their disapproval by operating a go-slow.

The UCI shelved plans to repeat the ban on stage 13, but it has now reverted to its initial decision, saying radios "distort the nature of cycle sport".

Race radios are already banned in junior and under-23 events.

However, teams are likely to continue their opposition to a complete ban.

They claim that the technology, which was made popular by American Lance Armstrong during his run of winning seven consecutive Tours de France between 1999-2005, is needed to keep riders informed and safe.

Johan Bruyneel, who was Armstrong's team manager at Astana for this year's Tour, said: "There are so many cars, motorbikes, cameras, [the ban] is completely unjustified and unacceptable."

However, the UCI has accepted the UCI Road Commission's recommendation to gradually phase out the use of two-way radios for all categories of rider.

606: DEBATE
BBC Sport's Peter Scrivener

It said in a statement: "[The panel] took into account the desire expressed by the majority of those involved in cycling to prohibit the equipment."

Critics claim races have become sterile and predictable because riders know when to attack or chase down a breakaway and they want riders to improvise tactics.



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