German rider fined for "advertising"

Germany's Miriam Welte has been ordered by the UCI to pay a 2000 Swiss Franc fine for "illegal advertising" during the medal awards ceremony after the women's team sprint event at the World Championships in Manchester. The 21-year-old sports solider wore a pin from the Bundeswehr (German army) on her trikot when she received her bronze medal alongside team-mate Dana Glöss.

2000 Swiss francs is the equivalent of 1275 Euro, and Welte earns only 1000 Euro monthly as a soldier.

"I don't see that this fine is justified, because it is not advertising in the literal sense, but just a 'Bundeswehr' sign, that is equivalent to an Adidas patch, for example," Burckhard Bremer, Sport director for the German federation, the Bund Deutsche Radfahrer, told the dpa. "We will clear this up with the UCI's legal department."