Giro d'Italia curiosity: Jury warns pros against urinating in water bottles

Penalties for public urination always cause a stir in cycling. At the Giro d'Italia 2026, these recently led to an unusual solution by individual riders. According to reports from the Spanish portal Ciclo21, some of the pros reached for a water bottle to avoid the penalties for public urination. The race organisers responded with a clear statement in the jury report after the ninth stage.

Arjen Livyns of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale confirmed the existence of the practice to Het Nieuwsblad, but played down its prevalence. "It doesn't happen often. I've never done it myself and actually only know one rider who definitely does it: Victor Campenaerts," Livyns explained. The Belgian suspects that his compatriot invented the concept, as Campenaerts already used it at Lotto Dstny.

Spectators as a problem at the Giro d'Italia

Oliver Naesen pointed in the same direction without fully pronouncing the name. "I'm not naming names, but V.C. is the expert in this field," said the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale rider. Campenaerts evaded a direct question from Sporza after the time trial. "Urine bidons in the race? I have no idea what you're talking about," replied the Visma | Lease a Bike rider with a meaningful smile.

Both drivers showed understanding for the race organisers' warning. The main problem is disposal: Fans collect discarded drinking bottles as mementos. "These bidons have to go somewhere," explained Livyns. "And people are always eager to pick them up." Naesen, on the other hand, commented more clearly on the practice: "I wouldn't be happy if one of my children picked up one of these bidons and then wanted to have a taste." The danger to unsuspecting spectators makes the practice at the Giro d'Italia unacceptable from the organisation's point of view.

Modern races make pee breaks more difficult

The UCI regulations do not contain a specific article on this situation. However, commissaires can sanction behaviour that is considered inappropriate, indecent or damaging to the rider's image. Public urination explicitly falls into this category. After the finish at Corno alle Scale, the jury made it clear that the bidon variant would not be tolerated either.

It should come as no surprise why the riders are now looking for alternatives to urinating. Collective pee breaks used to be part of the peloton's rhythm. In modern cycling, however, the conditions hardly allow for such interruptions. The battle for the breakaway often drags on for a long time and the chase begins almost immediately afterwards.

Conclusion: root of the problem not solved

The organiser's ban on the Giro d'Italia is absolutely understandable. However, it doesn't really get any closer to solving the original problem. In hardly any other sport do the pros have to be active for so long without interruption and only have limited opportunities to go to the toilet. After the ban, the only question is what new idea riders like Victor Campenaerts want to use to tackle the problem. One thing is certain: the case is definitely a real curiosity!