What is race radio in cycling?
Race radio refers to the radio communication used during a race, both the official race information channel and the earpieces that connect riders to their directeur sportif in the team car.
The official race radio, run by the organiser, broadcasts information to team cars, motorbikes and officials: breakaway composition, time gaps, crashes, mechanical incidents and jury decisions. It is the backbone of race organisation.
Team radios link riders to their directeur sportif. Through an earpiece, riders hear the time gap to the breakaway, warnings about dangerous corners, the wind direction ahead and tactical instructions. Riders can also talk back to the car.
Team radios have been debated for years. Supporters say they improve safety, because riders can be warned about hazards. Critics say they make racing more predictable, since teams can calculate exactly when to catch a breakaway. The UCI allows team radio at the highest level of racing, but rules have changed over time and some races at lower levels have restricted their use.
Radios connect the riders to the team staff and the team car. Our team pages show the riders on each roster and our estimates of their salaries.