The use of glucose monitors in races: the perspective of those who use them

Due to the constant need to monitor their glucose levels to avoid hypoglycemia, Team Novo Nordisk cyclists have received an exceptional authorization from the UCI to use glucose monitors. Recently, the use of these devices during races has generated a lot of discussion, including the disqualification of Kristen Faulkner in this year’s edition of the Strade Bianche. Many people are calling for the UCI to expand the authorization of glucose monitors to the rest of the peloton, but the UCI seems reluctant to do so. We spoke with Logan about this topic:

I think it should be allowed, that cyclists should be able to see their glucose levels if they want to. It’s like any new technological development, like power meters and the cycling head unit itself. How many commentators wanted those things to be taken away because it was impacting the race? Especially in the mid-2010s editions of the Tour de France, when we would see cyclists just riding at a tempo, looking at their power meters. Commentators were saying that we had to get rid of these devices because the races weren’t exciting. Regarding glucose, it’s a new data field that people are going to be looking at. It’s just another variable among the hundreds of variables already being monitored. So, I don’t think there should be a barrier between cyclists who monitor their glucose and those who don’t. I mean, for us, we’re lucky to get the exemption, because we have type 1 diabetes, so we get to have the glucose levels in our head units. Each of us also has therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to use insulin. But I don’t think there should be a barrier for other cyclists.