I thought the same thing, Mark. In fact, I recall last year or the year before, Phil & Paul
explained during Tour de France coverage that this is the reason why the non-climbers would form a
"grupetto" during the mountain stages. They explained that there was this UCI rule that they could
not eliminate more than 20% of the field, and so if they all got together, the commisseurs could not
eliminate anyone without eliminating huge percentages of the field.
Here's what I found out after doing a little digging. It's actually discretionary:
"By agreement with the race management, the commissaires' panel may alter deadlines to take
into account exceptional occurrences (weather conditions, road blocks, accident or serious
incident, etc.).
If the percentage of eliminated riders exceeds 20% of the participants, the coefficient may be
raised by a decision of the commissaires' panel in agreement with the race director. Obviously, all
riders finishing in the new deadline remain qualified for the following stages. Such a decision is
exceptional and will under no circumstances set a precedent."
Note the point that it does not set a precedent, and it only is done by a decision of the
commissaires' panel in agreement with the race director.
I admit, I also thought that it was a rule that they couldn't disqualify people in a large group,
but I guess they can.
"Mark Janeba" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> geoff raynak wrote:
> > from cyclingnews.com:
> >
> > First across the line on six occasions this year, Petacchi was last to
reach
> > the finish in Chianale today, finishing outside the time limit and
finding
> > himself unceremoniously eliminated from the race.
>
> The results posted on Cycling News show more than 25% of the field not making the time cutoff on
> today's stage. (Wow!) I thought grand tours (or UCI?) had a rule that not more than 20% of the
> field could be eliminated by a time cut in any one stage - or is that just The Tour?
>
> --
> Mark Janeba remove antispam phrase in address to reply