Finding. The Tour of Lombardy is raced on Saturday. On Friday, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe wanted to present Remco Evenepoel’s new bike and new European champion’s jersey. The personalised bike is ready. The jersey had not arrived in Lombardy. Nobody had seen it.
I read this in the evening, in Amay, the folder open on the kitchen table. I address my dog formally, and he does not comment either.
Firstly. HLN recalls that Evenepoel is the first rider in history to have won every road championship. There is therefore no prototype jersey for a rider who is national, European, world and Olympic champion at once. I note that nobody had planned for the case. The rulebook had not either, but it is used to that.
Secondly. The UCI rulebook requires only a reference to the current title on the jersey. Only. I underlined the word in pencil. The rest is a matter for tailoring, not compliance.
Thirdly. The team hopes he can pull it on at 5pm, at the team presentation. I note the time. A deadline, I know what that is. On Sundays, at the kermesse (a village circuit race), I have seen riders arrive at the bib check with one pin missing. The bib was compliant. The pin was not. One was found.
For the reconnaissance of the finale, more than 75 kilometres in rain and mist, over the Madonna del Ghisallo, San Fermo della Battaglia and the Civiglio, he wore the team’s usual kit. I have nothing to point out.
And the bike is ready. It is always the textile that drags behind, mind you.
Verdict at 4.59pm: pending. At 5pm, if the jersey carries the current title: compliant. What I think of a rider with too many titles for one piece of fabric, I do not write. It is not in the column.
It’s true, we checked: HLN.
