Since 2014, MPCC has been tracking the records of the starting riders of the 3 Grand Tours. In 2018, 9 of them, contracted to non-MPCC member teams, had previously been suspended for more than 6 months in their careers.
When looking at this datavisualisation, two figures catch the eye: first, the amount of riders suspended in in the past, and then the number of riders who have not been allowed to start one or the other Grand Tour by the UCI.
On a voluntary basis, our movement require our members to commit to Article 4, one of the most important of MPCC’s rules and regulations:
« MPCC teams agree not to enter riders, even in the case of a contract extension, who are convicted of (or deemed involved in) any anti-doping violation under Articles 2.1 to 2.8 of the World Anti-Doping Code, who were given a sanction of more than 6 months by the international court or national body (excluding penalties for three breaches of the ADAMS geolocation anti-doping administration and management system), within 2 years after the suspension or subject to a sanction for:
1. Abnormalities noted on the biological passport (or a violation of the biological passport regulations).
2. Damage to the image and credibility of cycling as previously defined. (…)
It is expressly agreed and accepted by the team members that in the event the rider is under contract, it will have to be terminated. The non-recruitment clause as provided in the part IV must be extensively implemented: the incriminated rider will no longer be part of the team during the 2-year period. »
MPCC is glad to see that its members, attached to the philosophy of the movement, keep committing to this rule and refrain from choosing previously suspended riders to start a Grand Tour or any other race, even after the two-year regulatory period.
The nine riders who have previously been suspended in the past are indeed all contracted to team not belonging the MPCC (8 MPCC teams have started the Giro, 9 on the other Grand Tours).
As a whole, the percentage of riders previously suspended or not allowed to start is gradually dropping year after year on the Grand Tour. Last year, it was a little less than 5%. For the year 2018, the number is a little bit over 3%. MPCC teams are leading by example. The 0% objective remains an absolute priority.
> See the Infography : Giro d’Italia 2018 – Tour de France 2018 – Vuelta a España 2018
2018 GRAND TOUR RACES PELOTON INFOGRAPHY :
