VILLARS-SUR-OLLON, Switzerland (AP) — Five teams and 30 of the world's top cyclists have been removed from the women's Tour de Romandie in a dispute over GPS trackers on riders, the sport's governing body said as the race began Friday.
The excluded riders made up nearly a third of the field for the three-day race in Switzerland and included 2024 Tour de France winner Katarzyna Niewiadoma.
The International Cycling Union said the teams had been asked to each pick one rider to wear a GPS tracker ahead of a wider rollout of the device to all riders at the world championships in Rwanda next month. They refused to nominate riders and were excluded from the race, the UCI said. All 30 riders were listed as non-starters on the race website.
“It is deplorable to witness the refusal of certain teams to move forward together to protect the safety of riders, and the UCI condemns their non-cooperation,” the UCI said. It also claimed that some of the teams were part of an organization developing a rival tracking system.
The exclusions may not be the end of the matter. The UCI said it “shall consider if other measures are warranted” under its regulations.
In a joint statement, the five teams said they supported measures to make cycling safer but disagreed with how the UCI went about it. Forcing teams to pick one rider to wear the UCI-mandated device meant they had to “discriminate one rider against other riders,” they said.
“This action disregards the rights of teams and riders, applies the measure in a discriminatory manner, and contradicts the UCI’s own stated commitment to dialogue with stakeholders,” the teams said.
“We are always at the forefront to make cycling a safer sport, but it should be achieved through collaboration, not coercion.”
The UCI says it wants to introduce the trackers to ensure a quick response to crashes.
At last year’s world championships in Switzerland, 18-year-old cyclist Muriel Furrer died after sustaining a head injury in a crash.
She was competing in the junior women’s event on rain-slicked roads when she crashed in a forest area south of Zurich. She reportedly lay alone for almost an hour and a half before she was discovered at the side of the road and airlifted by helicopter to the hospital.
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FILE - Tour de France Women's winner Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium after the eighth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Le Grand-Bornand and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, file)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Unable to wrap your hands around the season’s hottest gift?
The Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles feel your pain.
Three turnovers on a single play Monday night unfolded like a white elephant gift exchange.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts finished the night with four interceptions and a fumble, including a pick that ended the Chargers' 22-19 victory in overtime.
A wild scenario in the second quarter typified Philadelphia's frustration.
The Eagles had the ball before the Chargers plucked it away. The Eagles got it right back, before the Chargers yanked it away again.
From the time Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts let go of his pass with 8:28 remaining in the first half, until the ball stopped rolling, it was among the wildest 9 seconds of the season.
Hurts’ second-quarter pass to A.J. Brown was intercepted by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand at the Los Angeles 17-yard line. Hand fumbled at the 24-yard line when he was hit by the Eagles’ Will Shipley. Hurts had the ball return to his hands at the 33 but he fumbled it when he was hit by the Chargers’ Jamaree Caldwell.
Only the Chargers’ Troy Dye was able to secure the ball tightly when he jumped on it at the 43-yard line.
“It was amazing. You just can’t script that," Hand said of his first career interception in eight NFL seasons. “It’s great football. That’s the moment you think about as a little kid.”
Hurts made history, becoming the only NFL player ever to throw an interception, recover a fumble and lose a fumble on the same play. Adding to the oddity was that the Eagles entered with just eight giveaways all season, tied for the best in the NFL.
“As frustrating as the night was, we had an opportunity to win the game in the end,” Hurts said, when asked specifically about the wild second-quarter play. “I had the ball in my hands, driving down, having everything on our terms. And I didn’t bring it home.”
The Chargers cashed in the madness with a field goal to take a 10-3 lead with 4:55 remaining in the second quarter. But the giveaway game was far from complete.
The three-turnover play was merely part of a stretch when the teams had five turnovers in a span of 11 plays after Hurts was intercepted on the Eagles’ next possession and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled the ball away one play later.
“That one stings,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “At the end of the day we had some turnovers in this game, which is uncharacteristic of us."
The gift giving continued.
In the end there were eight total turnovers from both teams on the night. The Chargers’ Tony Jefferson delivered the final one in overtime when he intercepted Hurts' pass at the 1-yard line.
“I didn’t play well,” Hurts said. “Too many turnovers. Lots of opportunities, especially when we get on the other side of the 50. But I wasn’t able to get us in the box.”
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Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (94) recovers a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) runs back with an intercepted pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree' Jackson (8) intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II (86) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) intercepts a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson (2) during overtime of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) rolls out during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
