With talk of a radio ban making the rounds at the UCI, we decided to email a bunch of professionals and see what they thought. Here’s the responses we got from those gracious enough to respond – and no, sir I cannot do that to myself, physiologically speaking…

Michael Barry, Team Sky

How will race strategy change without race radios – if at all?
Races will not be as controlled as teams will not be able to coordinate as quickly to chase down breakaways as we will not be as aware of time gaps or who is in the breakaway as quickly – right now we are reliant on the DS for that information and it comes over the radio frequently and repeatedly. At the moment riders don’t need to study the courses as much as they can rely on the directors for that information as well. Radios have simplified racing. Without them you’ll see more breakaways make it to the finish, less controlled racing, and fewer massive field sprints. Riders with tactical savvy will be able to use their skills. Radios eliminate most of the variables which make cycling and intriguing and complex sport to watch. 

Do you agree with the ban?
Yes. 

Will some teams be more affected than others?
Yes. The teams with sprinters will win fewer races as they won’t be able to time their pursuits so precisely. The juggernauts, like Astana last year, will have less control of the race. This year at the Tour they strangled the race stifling any attacks, or excitement. 

Do you think races will be less safe without radios?
No. There will be an adaptation as we learn to race without them but as they cause a lot more stress and crashes than if we were racing without the racing will be safer. They create an instantaneous global panic in the peloton the racing as soon as most directors will relay the same information or directive at the same moment. The argument has been that without them we won’t be aware of the dangers on the course ahead of us – rarely does this prevent accidents – when we are warned of a dangerous descent we sprint for the top of the climb and race down to be in position in case there are splits. Also it is said that the radios eliminate directors from driving into the peloton – the directors have no reason to need to drive into the peloton unless it is critical–in that case they will need permission from the commissaire and will proceed with caution. If the commissaires control the situation properly it won’t be an issue and we will all adapt. I see the radio ban as being similar to any ban put on a community or society – people kick up a fuss as they don’t like change but when they are forced to change they adapt and accept it. If the ban goes through we won’t even be talking about radios 5 months later – racing will be better and it will be a non-issue. 

What’s the strangest exchange you’ve ever had on the race radio?
In Malaysia while racing in the Tour de Langkawi we were on the same channel as some local workmen – or whatever they were – and we heard nonstop chatter, back and forth arguing in Malay, for an hour. Needless to say we pulled out our earpieces. 

Dave Zabriskie, Team Garmin-Slipstream

How will race strategy change without race radios – if at all?
Oh it’s gonna be off the chain.

Do you agree with the ban?
Of course I do, it’s gonna be off the chain.
 
Will some teams be more affected than others?
 Maybe teams that don’t know how to make decisions when things are going off the chain.
 
Do you think races will be less safe without radios?
I think they will be safer actually.  Less stressful energy going around the bunch.
 
What’s the strangest exchange you’ve ever had on the race radio?
I had grabbed a handful of purple condoms on the street from some group that was handing them out when I lived in Berkeley.  I put those purple condoms in my rain bag.  During my first Vuelta it began to rain and Johan is on the radio talking to everybody so and so wants this and that.  I was like give me a jacket or something.  Maybe a minute passed and Johan came on the radio and said real slow, Dave, why do you have condoms in your rain bag?  I’m not sure how responded at that time, probably just said something like, well just in case or it is a rain bag…

Lucas Euser, Team Garmin-Slipstream

How will race strategy change without race radios – if at all?
You’d be suprised at how much we don’t rely on race radio for tactics and strategy. More times than not the lag between action and communication between the car is the moment in which hesitation wins or loses the race. Strategy is discussed before the race and it is our job as professionals to see it through during the day.

Do you agree with the ban?
No. Frankly I don’t think we should disrupt the progress of technology in our sport. Radios are a means of bringing a team closer together. The NFL isn’t debating communication from coach to QB, it makes the game more exciting. Not the other way around. Everyone is involved, if not you have JV stuck eating potato chips and getting really edgy because he can’t say goofy sexual innuendoes in the radio!

Will some teams be more affected than others?
That will depend on the size of balls of their director in the caravan, because they’ll be the most affected. As far as race strategy goes the French are going to continue to France us, Euskatel still won’t be able to descend, and at some point Columbia will stick it in the gutter. Those things happen too quick on the road for race radio to have any input.

Do you think races will be less safe without radios?
YES!!! Coming from someone that got hit by the Medical car in the caravan last year, that thing is dangerous. Right now when there is a crash, the involving teams are radioed to approach with caution. Imagine with no radios, a crash and all 25 team cars racing to get there. I think we sacrifice enough of our own well being for the entertainment of the masses, taking something out of the equation that can help keep riders safe is ridiculous.

What’s the strangest exchange you’ve ever had on the race radio?
JV singing a few lines from Avenue Q, a broadway puppet show, at the Tour de Georgia. At first, very entertaining on a boring day with a solo breakaway. After I think we banned him from the radio!

Mike Creed, Team Type 1

How will race strategy change without race radios – if at all?
I don’t think it would change much. The plans set up in the meetings are pretty straightforward. If anything, maybe riders and directors will pay more attention to the course and weather forecast. Unlike now, where you can get real time updates about turns in 1k or so, that may be crucial because of the elements.

Do you agree with the ban?
I’m not sure. It’s an interesting idea, and I think it’s worth trying. Maybe they can do a trial phase until May, and see how the racing is affected and what teams have to say. I think directors are really afraid of this because if it happens, they basically turn into babysitters during the race. The riders will have a lot more to hear about after the race as well. "You should have done this, why did’t you do that?" will be coming out of every director’s mouth.

Will some teams be more affected than others?
I can’t imagine so. I suppose if there is a team that’s built around one rider, it could be harder to control the race for that one person; maybe they’ll have a hard time knowing who’s in the break, time gaps, etc. But on the flip side, it could be easier because the guys attacking aren’t getting whipped from the director to do so.

Do you think races will be less safe without radios? 
In the eight years I’ve been racing with a radio, the amount of times I’ve been told something that was helpful to my safety has to be below three. I imagine it’s happened before, but I just can’t recall it.

What’s the strangest exchange you’ve ever had on the race radio?
I was doing an amateur stage race in France. I was in the winning break and we had about 40k to go. And I start hearing "Tyler has 10 seconds" And I’m thinking, why did Farrar attack the pack?  We have 7 min. He’s not going to catch us. Then comes "Tyler has 11 seconds" What the hell is going on? Then "Tyler has 1k to go"  I get on the radio and ask Noel what the hell he’s talking about, but he dosent respond. Then, "Tyler Hamilton has won LBL".  Noel was so tired of our race that he started watching another.