Bizarre: Continental team Saint Piran risks massive fine after using illegal bikes

A strange story in the British cycling world. The continental team Saint Piran is under scrutiny by the UCI after admitting to having used illegal frames. The team now faces the risk of having to pay a massive fine.

The incident took place two years ago, as reported by Cycling Weekly. The team, which competed in this year's Tour of Britain, was sponsored by the French bicycle manufacturer Lapierre. However, concerns arose about the safety of these bikes. As a result, Saint Piran stopped using the frames and ended the partnership. Trek later replaced Lapierre as their sponsor, but during the season, the team was briefly left without bikes. They had to search for an emergency solution, which they found in the form of a Chinese manufacturer.

For a short period of time, the riders of the British team rode on a nameless black frame, which the team themselves dubbed the "Wuhan Weapon". They claimed it met all UCI regulations. However, it has now been revealed that this was not the case. The manufacturer was not approved by the international cycling union. Normally, a UCI-approved sticker is applied to the frame at the factory. The sticker on the Chinese bikes was fake and was applied just before the race, according to a source from within the team.

Illegal frames mean potential massive fine

The legality of the frames had already been a topic of discussion among the riders themselves. WhatsApp messages reveal that the team's owner, Richard Pascoe, was aware of the concerns from his staff but dismissed any criticism. After being contacted by Cycling Weekly, Saint Piran responded to the situation on Instagram. In the post, the team stated that "After a detailed inspection, we can confirm the unbranded frames were not compliant with the UCI regulation process. Saint Piran acted on the advice of the manufacturer and an external expert and understood they were in line with UCI regulations at all times. It appears that advice was incorrect. We have now reported this to the UCI and British Cycling and will abide by their ruling."

The UCI is not willing to say much about the situation at this time. "The UCI can confirm that there is currently an investigation underway regarding the possible use of an unauthorized frameset by the continental team Saint Piran. As long as the investigation is ongoing, the UCI will not comment further." The regulations surrounding the legality of bicycles are strict. The UCI labels must be visible, indelible and inseparable from the frame. Violation of this rule can result in a fine ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 Swiss francs.