Croat Named Head Judge for 2016 Tour de France
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Bruno Valčić (insert)
Some good recognition for Croatian cycling with news that race judge Bruno Valčić being appointed the head commissaire for next year’s Tour de France…
The 49-year-old from Pula, who was head commissaire for this year’s Vuelta, is thrilled to get the job he calls the pinnacle in his sport.
“Tour de France is the peak, the highest level an international judge can get to. It will be the second time for me as I was in the 4-member race jury in 2013. I am not new to judging, I have been around for 12-13 years, twice I judged the Giro, a number of World Championships, and the Olympic Games in London,” said Valčić, who compares judging the Tour de France to refereeing the Champions League final in football.
“There are around 150 judges in the world, around 30 of those are in the top category who judge on the World Tour. If the World Cycling Tour is the Champions League, then the Tour de France is the Champions League final.
Valčić showed he his not afraid to make decisions at this year’s Vuelta, where he disqualified Italian rider Vincenzo Nibal for holding onto the team car for too long.
