UEC explains photo-finish technology after Giulio Ciccone’s questions
- Remco Evenepoel won the European men's road cycling championship in Slovenia after edging out Italy's Giulio Ciccone in a two-man sprint.
- Following the race on Sunday, the Italian rider expressed confusion over the outcome and asked to see an image corresponding to the "vraie ligne d'arrivée".
- Faced with Ciccone's questions, the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) published a statement on Monday evening to clarify how the photo-finish technology operates.
Remco Evenepoel won the European men’s road cycling championship in Slovenia after edging out Italy’s Giulio Ciccone in a two-man sprint. The victory required several minutes of verification before officials made the result official, as the gap between the two men measured only a few thousandths of a second.
Ciccone Requests Photo Verification After Close Finish
Following the race on Sunday, the Italian rider expressed confusion over the outcome and asked to see an image corresponding to the “vraie ligne d’arrivée”. The necessity for verification delayed the official announcement of the winner, prompting discussions regarding the ultra-close finish between Evenepoel and Ciccone.
Union Européenne de Cyclisme Response
Faced with Ciccone’s questions, the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) published a statement on Monday evening to clarify how the photo-finish technology operates. The governing body explained that the system utilized during the European Championships records the finish line 13,000 times per second, enabling precise determination of the arrival order even during minimal gaps.
The UEC further noted that a photo-finish differs from a conventional photograph, stating: L’image finale est composée de la séquence chronologique des prises de vue réalisées sur la ligne d’arrivée. Pour cette raison, l’axe horizontal représente le temps et non la distance.
While visible deformations on wheels or bicycles may appear surprising, the organization confirmed they do not impact the accuracy of the result.
Organization Uses Front Wheel Regulation to Settle Dispute
To settle the riders, the organization highlighted the specific regulation governing the finish: En cyclisme, le point de référence décisif est la partie avant de la roue avant au moment précis où elle franchit la ligne d’arrivée.
Concluding its communication on the matter, the instance stated: L’UEC ne fera aucune déclaration supplémentaire sur le sujet.