Multiple world champion and current world number one Marianne Vos has given a thumbs up to the UCI’s new athletes' commission, believing that it will help improve things for riders in the sport.
The Dutchwoman is one of fifteen riders on commission, of which twelve were present at last week’s first get-together at the UCI headquarters in Aigle. Men’s world number one Philippe Gilbert (Belgium), world time trial champion Judith Arndt (Germany), Dario Cioni (Italy) and Bernhard Eisel (Austria) are the other road riders, and were also there in Switzerland.
“I hope that it improves the sport even further,” said Vos in a UCI video interview. “There are many things that can improve, and also in women’s cycling…to get to the next level, to get more professional, to have more safety. In everything we can discuss that. Of course, the UCI has the input, but now [there’s] more from the field and I think that is a good thing.
“I think it’s really good to have the voice from the peloton to the UCI, and to share our thoughts with the members of the UCI and also with the other disciplines. I only know some of the members from television. So it is good to get to know each other and learn from each other.”
The commission has been set up with several goals, including increasing connections and dialogue between the governing body and its top riders. According to commission co-ordinator Xavier Dafflon, it has an important roe in ‘tightening the relationship between the UCI and the athletes.’
That relationship has been under pressure in the past, most recently in relation to the race radio dispute. The governing body wants to remove radios from the peloton, while many of the riders believe they make racing safer.
This and other issues will undoubtedly be discussed at commission meetings, where the riders will be able to act as representatives for the peloton and put forward the views of their fellow professionals.
Vos’s time in Aigle didn’t disrupt her training too much; she was second to Daphny van den Brand (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) in cyclo-cross Saturday’s World Cup at Koksijde, then turned the tables to win the Dutch round of the Superprestige series in Gieten.