Vollering and teammates fined for urinating in public at Tour de France Femmes – but where are riders supposed to pee?

Three riders from FDJ United-SUEZ – Demi Vollering, Juliette Berthet, and Célia Gery – have been fined CHF100 each for engaging in public urination during stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The infraction is covered by UCI regulations, specifically article 2.12.007, section 8.6, which deals with "unseemly or inappropriate behavior," including undressing or urinating in public during a race.

For a Women’s WorldTour event like the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the fine ranges between CHF100 and CHF200. While all three FDJ riders received the minimum sanction, the fines underscore the practical challenges surrounding nature breaks during races. There is no formal designated area or specific time for riders to take such breaks, and the peloton typically relies on convention to govern this aspect.

Riders may choose quieter sections of the road, away from towns and spectators, to stop and relieve themselves, provided there is a lull in the intense racing. However, the recent Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has seen a relentless pace with frequent attacks and counter-attacks, leaving little time for such collective breaks.

This Friday's stage marked one of the few opportunities for the peloton to pause, as the race was less aggressive than usual. Additionally, mechanics for women riders present another layer of complexity, as they must dismount, lower their shorts, and remove parts of their clothing to squat, which can be more time-consuming and cumbersome compared to male riders who can often urinate while riding or quickly stop without undressing.

The lack of designated breaks, coupled with the need for privacy and the competitive risk involved, means riders must carefully weigh the potential benefits of a nature break against the possible consequences, such as the CHF100 fine Vollering and her teammates incurred.