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Paris - The International Cycling Union (UCI) on Thursday upheld its ban on earpieces despite a threat by professional cycling teams to boycott the Tour of Beijing in protest.
The UCI banned the earpieces in order to break communications between riders in the field and team managers following by car in order to make the sport more exciting.
But AIGP, an international professional cyclists group, announced: "The teams are united in their position on the earpieces. Cycling is a team sport and as such, communications are crucial for both the management and the cyclists.
"If the use of earpieces is not re-authorised in all professional cycling races by May 1, the teams will not take part in the Tour of Beijing (October 5-9)."
The UCI called the teams' bluff, however, and confirmed the ban.
"I'm sorry we've arrived at this situation," UCI president Pat McQuaid said, who "regretfully noted this new element of tension in the situation".
"It will not, however, change the UCI's position on the subject.
"We told the AIGP and the CPA to withdraw the boycott threat or consider as inopportune their presence at the Professional Cycling Council."
Team representatives Roberto Amadio and Jonathan Vaughters, along with the CPA's Gianni Bugno, all sat out the council meeting after the salvo.
McQuaid added: "Races must not be controlled from distance. It's not in the best interests for the sport, spectators or television viewers.
"The UCI is meeting companies specialised in communications systems. We're striving to find the best solutions to guarantee the riders' safety."
A two-stage earpiece ban at the 2009 Tour de France ended in riders staging a go-slow after teams claimed the ban made cycling, where mass falls are a common feature, more dangerous.
Despite the snail's pace set on stage 10 of the 2009 Tour de France between Limoges and Issoudun, the race culminated in a top-speed sprint and was won by Briton Mark Cavendish.
The UCI also discussed the length of suspension to be imposed in the event of a first serious violation of the rules.
"After analysing in detail the existing legal framework, notably the World Anti-Doping Code, and other constraints that must be taken into account in the evaluation and management of every doping case, the CCP decided to recommend increasing the suspension period for doping offences involving a serious substance from two to four years," the UCI said.
The CCP also asked the UCI to look into the possibility of introducing a system of penalties to be applied to teams looking to take on a rider returning to cycling after a period of suspension for a doping offence.
The UCI banned the earpieces in order to break communications between riders in the field and team managers following by car in order to make the sport more exciting.
But AIGP, an international professional cyclists group, announced: "The teams are united in their position on the earpieces. Cycling is a team sport and as such, communications are crucial for both the management and the cyclists.
"If the use of earpieces is not re-authorised in all professional cycling races by May 1, the teams will not take part in the Tour of Beijing (October 5-9)."
The UCI called the teams' bluff, however, and confirmed the ban.
"I'm sorry we've arrived at this situation," UCI president Pat McQuaid said, who "regretfully noted this new element of tension in the situation".
"It will not, however, change the UCI's position on the subject.
"We told the AIGP and the CPA to withdraw the boycott threat or consider as inopportune their presence at the Professional Cycling Council."
Team representatives Roberto Amadio and Jonathan Vaughters, along with the CPA's Gianni Bugno, all sat out the council meeting after the salvo.
McQuaid added: "Races must not be controlled from distance. It's not in the best interests for the sport, spectators or television viewers.
"The UCI is meeting companies specialised in communications systems. We're striving to find the best solutions to guarantee the riders' safety."
A two-stage earpiece ban at the 2009 Tour de France ended in riders staging a go-slow after teams claimed the ban made cycling, where mass falls are a common feature, more dangerous.
Despite the snail's pace set on stage 10 of the 2009 Tour de France between Limoges and Issoudun, the race culminated in a top-speed sprint and was won by Briton Mark Cavendish.
The UCI also discussed the length of suspension to be imposed in the event of a first serious violation of the rules.
"After analysing in detail the existing legal framework, notably the World Anti-Doping Code, and other constraints that must be taken into account in the evaluation and management of every doping case, the CCP decided to recommend increasing the suspension period for doping offences involving a serious substance from two to four years," the UCI said.
The CCP also asked the UCI to look into the possibility of introducing a system of penalties to be applied to teams looking to take on a rider returning to cycling after a period of suspension for a doping offence.
