Photo courtesy of SWpix.

We’ve received information this morning that several high-profile women’s teams have been disqualified from the Tour de Romandie Féminin.

The race kicks off with an individual time trial between Huémoz and Villars-sur-Ollon later today.

The situation could change in the next hour, but right now, five teams, Lidl-Trek, Canyon SRAM, EF Education-Oatly, Visma-Lease a Bike and Team Picnic PostNL, will be technically disqualified from the race ahead of the TT after a disagreement with the UCI over new rules surrounding the use of rider tracking systems within the race.

It appears the argument was about the use of the new safety tracking system, with the UCI imposing new regulations on the teams without proper consultation.

The teams tried to find a compromise and suggested that the system be used by all riders, rather than the UCI attempting to push the teams into making one rider per team use the device. The teams also requested that any device used should be fitted by the UCI and not the team mechanics, which the UCI were trying to force through.

This is a breaking news story, so please check the online version for updates throughout the morning.

Update: here is a statement from the teams we’ve been exclusively sent:

“*UCI fails to confirm rule clarification request despite team’s tracking system co-operation*

We are shocked and disappointed by the UCI’s decision to disqualify several teams, including ours, from the Tour de Romandie Féminin.

Earlier this week, all affected teams sent formal letters to the UCI expressing support for rider safety but raising serious concerns about the unilateral imposition of a GPS tracking device to just one of the riders per team.

We made clear that:

• We would not select a rider ourselves, nor install, remove, or maintain the device.

• The UCI or its partner was free to select a rider and install the device at their own liability if they believe they are in their right to do so.

Despite our cooperation and the existence of a proven and collaborative safety tracking system already tested successfully in other major races (fully operational for the whole peloton and offered to the UCI), the UCI has chosen to impose this measure without clear consent, threaten disqualification, and now exclude us from the race for not selecting a rider ourselves. The reason why they don’t want to nominate a rider themselves is still unknown and unanswered. Despite multiple requests by the teams over the last two days, the UCI commissaires were unable to demonstrate on the basis of which precise UCI rule teams are obligated to discriminate one rider against other riders in terms of obligations (except for officially refering to an email of the teams’s union) but have nevertheless decided to carry on and disqualify the teams with their riders.

This action disregards the rights of teams and riders, applies the measure in a discriminatory manner, and contradicts the UCI’s own stated commitment to dialogue with stakeholders.

We are always at the forefront to make cycling a safer sport, but it should be achieved through collaboration, not coercion.”

The UCI has since sent out their own statement on the matter.

“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regrets that certain teams on the start list for the Tour de Romandie Féminin have refused to comply with the rules for the race related to the implementation of GPS trackers as a test for a new safety system. The test is being carried out over the course of the three-stage UCI Women’s WorldTour event,” the governing body say.

“The decision of these teams to oppose the specific rules for the event is surprising, and undermines the cycling family’s efforts to ensure the safety of all riders in road cycling by developing this new technology.”

We have obtained the following letter, which was sent to the UCI over the matter…