Pro riders criticise Lappartient over race reform ideas
Several pro riders have publicly criticised David Lappartient after the UCI President set out his desire to loosen Team Sky's stranglehold on the Tour de France.
The British team won their sixth title in seven years in July through Geraint Thomas, with Chris Froome also finishing on the podium. The pair were well supported throughout as their teammates once again dictated proceedings in the mountains.
"They win, and they'd be wrong to do otherwise, but the public sees things differently, they want a show. Sky are like a football team that plays very well but without exciting its fans," said Lappartient.
"When the viewer sees eight riders of the team dictating the pace and locking down the race, they quickly change channels to watch a soap opera. The ball is in our court, it's up to the UCI to make sure that its races are attractive."
Lappartient called for a version of financial fair play, capping the payroll budget of teams in order to spread the best riders more evenly through the peloton, and also for team sizes in Grand Tours to be further reduced to six riders. He also questioned whether banning race radios and power metres could help make the racing, as he sees it, more attractive.
Lappartient was widely criticised for his comments, with several pro riders speaking out publicly on social media platforms.
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