Section 7: Violations & Penalties
7.1 Drafting and Positioning Violations
- Drafting in time trial: Maintaining a distance of less than 25 m behind another rider (except when overtaking) results in a time penalty of 30 seconds for first offence, or disqualification for repeated or egregious violations.
- Unauthorized shelter: Receiving a drafting advantage from team vehicles ("sticky bottles" — holding onto a car while receiving a water bottle, or sheltering behind a vehicle) results in a fine of CHF 200–1,000 and potential time penalties. The "sticky bottle" technique, where a rider holds a team car's water bottle for an extended period to gain a tow, is formally prohibited but loosely enforced unless egregious.
- Sprint deviation: In a sprint finish, riders must hold their line. Deviating from a straight course to impede another rider results in relegation (dropping the rider to last position in their group) or disqualification for dangerous riding.
7.2 Equipment Violations
- Bike weight: Bicycle weighing less than 6.8 kg at any point during competition results in start refusal or disqualification. Post-race checks may result in retroactive disqualification.
- Frame non-compliance: Using a frame without valid UCI Type Approval results in start refusal. Using non-compliant equipment discovered mid-race leads to disqualification.
- Technological fraud (motor doping): The use of any hidden motor or electromagnetic propulsion device in a bicycle carries a lifetime ban from all UCI-sanctioned competition, a fine of CHF 20,000–200,000, forfeiture of all results and prize money, and criminal referral where applicable. Detection is performed using tablet-based magnetic resonance scanning, thermal imaging cameras, and X-ray inspection.
- Sock height: Socks exceeding the mid-point between ankle and knee result in a fine and the rider may be required to change before starting. Repeat violations escalate to time penalties.
7.3 Conduct Violations
- Dangerous riding: Causing a crash through reckless behaviour results in relegation, disqualification, and/or a fine of up to CHF 5,000. May also result in suspension from subsequent races.
- Littering outside designated zones: First offence: CHF 200 fine. Second offence: CHF 500 fine. Third and subsequent offences: 20-second time penalty in addition to the fine.
- Unsportsmanlike behaviour: Verbal or physical abuse toward officials, other riders, or spectators results in fines (CHF 200–5,000), relegation, or disqualification. Particularly severe conduct can lead to suspension.
- Track-specific infractions: Riding above the sprinter's line improperly in team pursuit results in relegation. In sprint events, dangerous riding (head-butting, elbowing, pushing) results in immediate relegation of the offending rider.
7.4 Anti-Doping Violations
- All UCI-sanctioned competitions fall under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. Violations include presence of a prohibited substance, use or attempted use, evading sample collection, whereabouts failures (3 missed tests within 12 months), and trafficking.
- Sanctions: First anti-doping offence: 2–4 year ban. Second offence: 8-year ban to lifetime ban. Results obtained during the period of violation are annulled.
- Biological passport: The UCI Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programme monitors haematological and steroidal markers over time. Abnormal fluctuations may constitute an anti-doping rule violation without a positive test.