Cycling split on move to permanent race numbers

Debate reopens as more races are cancelled and ethics scandal erupts, reports Vern Pitt

- Vern Pitt

Pro cycling adopting fixed numbers for each rider could “make stars of riders” but could also be “dangerous” and jeopardise the safety of races, according to various voices within the sport.

A debate erupted last week over whether the UCI and teams should adopt fixed numbers for riders like in some other sports including football, basketball and Formula 1.

The idea is not entirely new. Seb Piquet, a journalist and the voice of race radio at the Tour de France, recalled to CW that he was present at a UCI meeting where the idea was discussed in 2018. However, it has gained new traction since then.

Team Jumbo-Visma boss Richard Plugge told Dutch cycling website In de Leiderstrui that giving riders the same number across races would allow fans to recognise them more easily. “I think jersey numbers can increase the sale of shirts, just like when a team is more successful,” he said. “You can really make stars, but the main goal is going to be recognisability for fans and audiences.”

Jumbo has in fact been using its own numbers – on the central pockets of each of its riders’ jerseys – for the past year.

Anthony McCrossan, cycling commentator and broadcaster, is frequently battling to identify riders by their race numbers and is firmly in support of some standardisation. “Now, because they are stuck on to jerseys and you can’t print them on gilets and long-sleeve tops on rainy days, they are covered up most of the time,” he said. “If you said at the beginning of the year or the start of a rider’s career that they would be allocated a number, then it would make life significantly easier.

“In football, you know that David Beckham was number seven, you know that Ronaldo was number seven. You would always have that.”