Kovacik has not raced at UCI level since 2017, nine years ago. He had come to Montreal as the national team’s masseur. The Slovak federation says an empty start slot would have cost significant UCI points for qualification to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and harmed the standing of its national championship.
According to the federation, UCI rules and the fact that the Worlds are held in Canada left only one option: a member of the delegation. “A minimal Slovak representation in the elite category is important for the rankings and for future nominations to the Worlds, the European Championships and the Olympics,” it told Sporza.
The federation acknowledges the solution “is not ideal” and that it is “not taken lightly”, but calls it “unavoidable” to preserve future start opportunities for its promising riders.
Firstly. A start slot is a box. An empty box costs points. Secondly. The rulebook does not ask where a rider comes from, it asks that he is entered. He was a masseur on arrival in Montreal. He is entered on Sunday. I note the change of function in the column provided for that purpose. There is not one. I write it in the margin. Thirdly. Nine years without a UCI race. The rulebook does not provide for an expiry date on a rider. It provides for a licence, and I do not check another federation’s licence: I note that one is required. It also provides for a time cut at the finish, a percentage of the winner’s time, I do not invent it. I will note the time, as for the others. The delegation counts the same number of people, arranged differently. Compliant.
It’s true, we checked: Sporza.
