Willie Smit was disqualified from competition for the first time during his 14-year professional cycling career for wearing glasses that record video. He questions the double standard for video recording on the Tour de France.
His argument, while valid, misses a clear differentiator between the two.
It is not that video recording is banned from the sport of cycling. It has more to do with the way video is recorded.
Willie Smit questions why he was disqualified from the Tour of Qinghai when cyclists are able to vlog on the Tour de France.
Smit began his professional cycling career more than a decade ago. He had never been disqualified until this past weekend.
The 33-year-old South African, who competes for the Chna Anta–Mentech Team, was set to compete on the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai in China. It is an eight-stage race sanctioned by the International Cycling Union, more commonly known as the UCI.
Unfortunately, Willie Smit was disqualified for the first time in 14 years after the first stage. The decision stemmed from the following video, which was posted to social media:
Smit was baffled.
“Today I was disqualified for the first time in my cycling career (14 years), for wearing glasses that record video. Unfortunately I was not aware of a new rule that was implemented in April that prohibited this. A warning, fine or yellow card could have also been enough.”
The rule to which he is referring is UCL regulation 1.3.006 bis. It says:
“Image: still or moving images or footage captured from the bicycle (such devices may only be fitted on the bicycle unless specific regulations of a given discipline authorise devices being worn by riders).”
Video-recording glasses are not covered under this rule. The penalty for using “forbidden onboard technology device” results in “start refused, elimination or disqualification.” Smit was disqualified. His Tour of Qinghai is over.
Is there a double standard for video recording on the Tour de France?
Willie Smit is willing to accept this result and knows what not to do moving forward. However, he does not understand the double standard between his video and a recent post from the Tour de France. Tom Skujins was able to use an on-bike camera for an impromptu interview with Victor Campenaerts during the third stage. Their conversation was shared in the following video:
Smit questions why he was disqualified but Skujins was not.
“why In the Tour de France can you quite literally vlog with a camera in your hand which is perfectly legal…but because the camera is in the glasses you get an automatic Disqualification?! Yes, If I knew about the rule I would have also never posted it on social media.”
First and foremost the camera on the Tour de France was not in hand. It was on-bike! Secondly, the UCI rule applies specifically to the glasses technology. It likely has more to do with the speakers that are in them and that being a potential safety issue.
However, Smit claims his glasses do not have any additional functionality unless they are attached to a phone.
“And lastly, my glasses have absolutely no AI capabilities unless used with a phone. So on the bike it can do nothing but record video!”
If that is true, his point makes sense. A video camera is a video camera is a video camera. That does not mean the rule doesn’t exist.