The first official yellow card in cycling has been issued since the testing period at the end of last season. The "honor" went to Anna Badegruber, the sports director of the Uno-X women's team, who passed too close to the main group in her support car at the Santos Tour Down Under after her team rider was involved in a crash. Badegruber was also fined 200 Swiss francs.
"If the stewards decided that my overtaking was too dangerous and I deserved a yellow card, then so be it and let's move on with our lives. But in reality, you don't want to get a second yellow card in the same race, because then you're in trouble. That's why it should be very clear what you can get a yellow card for," said Badegruber.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has introduced a new rule that states that anyone who receives two yellow cards in a single race will be disqualified from the event and will not be allowed to compete in any other competition for seven days. In addition to dangerous maneuvers, a yellow card can also be issued for illegal assistance.
To increase safety, a rule came into effect on January 1st that penalizes riders who stop pedaling in the group finish, take their hands off the handlebars before the finish line, or otherwise create dangerous situations.
