UCI sticks to earpieces ban despite team protests

ST GIRONS, France: The International Cycling Union (UCI) has stuck to its decision to ban earpieces on two Tour de France stages despite a petition from most of the teams in the race.

"According to the decision of the UCI board, the race jury states that the 10th stage will be raced without any communication device between the riders and their sports directors," the UCI's race jury said in a statement on Saturday.

A petition asking Tour organizers to lift the ban is to be sent on Saturday, Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel said.