Cycling's world governing body, the UCI will make a decision on Thursday on the controversial banning of race radios for the 13th stage of the Tour de France.

UCI chief Pat McQuaid said that the decision will be made by the UCI's management committee on Thursday.

The radios allow team managers to talk to their riders throughout the race. However, they were banned for the 10th stage of the race, a move which prompted 14 of the Tour's 20 teams to submit a petition in protest.

Analysts said that the absence of radios could, in theory, benefit the teams hoping to distance the powerful Astana team of Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2009)