Prohibited to urinate inside the bottle and throw it at the public: the Giro warns cyclists

The Giro d'Italia has had to issue an unusual warning to the peloton. The organization and the panel of commissioners reminded after the ninth stage that it is strictly prohibited to urinate in a bottle and then throw it onto the road, a practice that some riders may have started using to avoid penalties for urinating by the roadside.

  The Giro prohibits cyclists from urinating in bottles and throwing them to the public

The warning appeared in the official race report after a day filled with fines and penalties related to unsportsmanlike behavior, littering, and public urination. The UCI considers that such actions damage "the image of cycling," especially in a grand tour where thousands of fans rush to collect bottles as souvenirs as the peloton passes.

The warning did not come alone. Several riders were penalized during stage 9. Christopher Juul-Jensen from Jayco AlUla received a fine of 500 Swiss francs and the withdrawal of 25 UCI points for throwing waste outside the designated areas. Lennert Van Eetvelt was fined 200 Swiss francs for "urinating in public during the race and harming the image of the sport." David De la Cruz also received a fine of 500 Swiss francs for "inappropriate behavior."

The UCI wants to prevent fans from collecting bottles with urine

As the Giro commissioners explained, some riders use an empty bottle as an improvised container, empty it later, and throw it onto the road just like they would with any other used bottle. The risk arises because many fans collect those bottles thinking they are simple race souvenirs.

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The official statement was particularly clear. "To respect the image of cycling and the Giro d'Italia, the organizer and the panel of commissioners inform all riders that it is strictly prohibited to urinate in a bottle and subsequently discard it", the text stated.

Breaks for urination have been part of professional cycling culture for decades. Often, riders take advantage of moments of lower tension to slightly move away from the group or stop for a few seconds. The problem is that the UCI has tightened penalties for urinating in front of the public in recent years, citing article 2.12.007-8.6 of its regulations.

This has led to increasingly complex situations for cyclists, especially in stages filled with spectators where finding a discreet place is almost impossible. Some riders even prefer to hold it for hours to avoid fines or public criticism.

Now, the Giro has also wanted to close the door on "urine bottles," a practice that until recently seemed more like a legend of the peloton than a real problem. The organization has not confirmed any specific incident that prompted the warning, but the fact that it appeared explicitly in the official report shows that the commissioners detected such behaviors during the race.

The UCI also wanted to prevent a fan from celebrating a bottle that, in reality, does not contain isotonic drink as a trophy.