Bra Booster Testing Rollout Blasted by Riders’ Group

The bra-boosting checks imposed on riders by the UCI on the eve of Tuesday’s time trial at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift incurred both the acceptance and wrath of the CPA riders’ group.

In a communique sent to the UCI and subsequently shared with Velo, the CPA hit out at the governing body’s lack of transparency around the late roll-out of a sensitive, first-of-its-kind testing procedure.

UCI commissaires at the Tour de France Femmes only sketched out a protocol to check for chest-padding aero workarounds in a hasty communique rushed out late Monday night. The age-old hack of padding out an oversized bra to create a makeshift aerodynamic chest fairing has been practiced by women for years. However, it falls outside what’s allowed by the UCI under Article 1.3.032 of its code.

Alessandra Cappellotto, president of CPA Women, told the UCI via email Tuesday that she accepted the need for tests to detect such aero hacks. However, she questioned the governing body’s handling of the situation.

Social media blew up with speculation Monday after Wielerflits first hinted at rider concerns of chest-maxxer cheats. The rumors grew to a frenzy after the UCI half-hinted at specific checks ahead of Tuesday’s individual time trial.

“While Article 1.3.032 itself is not new, its application in this specific context has generated considerable public and media attention,” Cappellotto wrote Tuesday in the email to the UCI that was shared with Velo.

“For this reason, we believe it is essential that the checks are conducted in a manner that is professional, respectful and fully safeguards the dignity and privacy of every rider, avoiding any misunderstanding, controversy or unpleasant situations,” she wrote.

Teams left guessing at the Tour de France Femmes

The UCI suggested Monday night in its communique after stage 3 of the Tour that riders would be subjected to specific tests for equipment that “alter the morphology of the rider.”

No firm detail was provided on how or where such sensitive checks would be carried out.

The CPA, an independent group that represents the interests of riders, was left looking for answers just hours before the stage rolled out on Tuesday morning.

“We trust that the inspection procedure has been designed in full compliance with the fundamental principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In particular those relating to human dignity, the integrity of the person and the right to privacy,” Cappellotto wrote on Tuesday.

Separately, retired pro Grace Brown told Velo in her role as president of The Cyclists Alliance women’s advocacy group that “the concern is how they check this while not invading privacy, and some women just naturally have more full chests.”

It later emerged Tuesday morning that the protocol would be carried out by a female commissaire inside a small enclosed tent near to the start ramp of the stage 4 time trial.

UCI testing ‘should never become subject of media speculation or public controversy’

It appears the UCI didn’t share details of its testing procedure with teams and riders Monday night after commissaires scrambled to issue their warning to riders.

In a note sent early Tuesday morning – just hours before riders would start rolling down the ramp for the stage 4 time trial – CPA chief Cappellotto questioned why the media knew just as much as the riders.

“Media reports indicate that an additional inspection area has been established and that female officials will conduct the checks,” she wrote. “However, no official explanation appears to have been provided regarding the practical protocol to be followed.”

Cappellotto went on to ask the UCI for clarification over rider privacy and how a safe, effective protocol would be implemented.

This is the first time such checks are known to have been carried out.

“Inspections carried out to enforce the UCI Regulations should be regarded as a normal part of competition and should never become the subject of unnecessary media speculation or public controversy,” Cappellotto wrote to the UCI.

“This situation demonstrates the importance of having a clear, standardized and publicly available inspection protocol, known in advance by riders, teams, Commissaires and all relevant stakeholders. Such transparency would help ensure that procedures are applied consistently and respectfully, while avoiding misunderstandings, unnecessary speculation or differing interpretations of how the checks should be carried out,” she wrote.

“A clear protocol would protect not only the riders, but also the Commissaires and the UCI itself.”