Viral Video of Cyclist Gaining Speed from Team Car Bottle Sparks Debate
In professional cycling, riders often get the water and food they need without breaking pace by taking supplies from staff waiting at the roadside or bottles handed out through team car windows. On stages that last for hours, losing energy and fluids can directly affect the race, so getting even a single bottle to a rider at just the right moment and speed is crucial.
Footage from a race showed a cyclist pedaling alongside a team car as a staff member handed him a bottle. Rather than letting go straight away, the rider held on to it for a few moments. As he picked up speed alongside the car, social media users branded the move “cheating.”
You can watch it here:
But the reality is quite different. So, what exactly is a sticky bottle?
In cycling, a “sticky bottle” refers to a rider holding on to a bottle for a few seconds while taking it from a team car. As the car and cyclist travel side by side at the same speed, the brief hold creates a momentary link between the rider and the staff member handing over the bottle, helping the cyclist pick up speed alongside the vehicle.
Race officials generally turn a blind eye to the fleeting contact involved in a bottle handoff. But if the rider holds on for too long, it’s considered an unfair advantage. The race jury can fine both the rider and the team director for prolonged holds. Hitching a ride by holding on to the car is a much more serious offense, punishable by anything from a time penalty to disqualification. As a result, riders and team staff take care not to overstep the rules when handing over bottles.
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