In the face of ongoing criticism, the UCI has doubled down on various rulings made in the last week surrounding equipment in the pro peloton, including 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:the intᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚroduction of a maximum handlebar width for road and cyclo-cross pros, and a 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:trial of maximum gearing rules.
Under rules announced on June 12, from next year handlebars must be at least 400mm wide 💎at the outer edge, and 320mm between the inner edges of the brake levers. An additional memo on June 17 confirmed that the UCI will trial limitations of gear ratios later this year, in a bid to reduce maximum speeds in the peloton.
Both new introductions have attracted widespread criticism from riders and onlookers, with the handlebar issue causing particular concern in the ⭕women's peloton, as female riders are on average smaller and use꧟ narrower handlebars.
Even a week on, the criticism has not abated, with independent women's rider union on Friday opposing the rule, adding to a similar message๊ put out by the International Bike Fitting Institute (IBFI) ea🎃rlier this week.
"We urge the UCI to reconsider this decision and withdraw this proposalౠ and instead p☂rioritize evidence-based measures that protect and enhance all riders' well-being and race safety," a TCA statement read.
"Female cyclists face the greatest impact from this arbitrar🍨y restriction on minimum handlebar width because they are🍒 statistically smaller in stature, with narrower shoulder widths."
The Cyclists' Alliance, the popular union choice for many female riders, is not affiliated with the UCI in the way that the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) riders' association is, so is not involved in things like 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:SafeR project.
On the issue of gearing limitations, concerns have been raised over the impact for🌠 SRAM-sponsored teams and their 10t cogs, and whether this is an effective and man🌞ageable way to try to limit speeds.
However, the UCI is showing no signs of changing their stance, releasing on Friday a rare statement to "provide further clarification on the 🔥recent amendments" which largely reiterated what they have said,𝄹 without responding to specific criticisms, and explained how the decisions were taken.
"These changes ar♚e part o෴f an overall approach aimed at ensuring ever safer and fairer competition conditions, in a context marked by rapid technological advances and a significant increase in racing speeds that could have an impact on rider safety," the press release read.
"Several of these measures respond to recommendations made by SafeR, the organisation dedicated to improving safety in men's and women's professional🎉 road cycling. They were developed following extensive consultation with riders, teams and organisers, including through the distribution of questionnaires to the entire peloton."
On the to💙pic of handlebar width, the r൩elease provided a more detailed explanation of the rule with diagrams to show the rules.
The UCI statement did not mention female cyclists specifically, but did say: "These changes, defined in consultation with stakeholders, aimꦫ to ensure 𒁃that all athletes, regardless of their body type, can compete with equipment that is both high-performance and safe."
The statement also reconfirmed that the UCI intends to trial limitations to gear ratios later this year, with the test event yet to be announced, clarifying that the intention is to limit speeds in the꧅ peloton.
"A test to limit the maximum gear ratio – approved by all families – will be carried out during a stage race in the second half of the 2025 season. The maximum gear ratio allowed in this context wilꦉl be 54 x 11, i.e. 10.46 metres per crank revolution. The maximum gear ratio limitation aims to limit the speed reached in competition. It has been proven that the very high speeds reac𒁃hed by riders today are a risk factor for their safety."
The statement also reiterated and provided diagrams regarding maximum fork 𝕴width and maximum rim height rules, as well as explaining that specific regulations around helmets – where a distinction is set to be ꦓmade between what is allowed in time trials and what is allowed in road races – will be published at a later date.
Despite holding firm on the latest amendments, the governing bod🐼y did conclude by noting that all rules are continuously reviewed.
"The UCI regularly reviews and revises its regulations to take account of technical advances, while placing safety and fairness at the heart of🌠 the rules in all cy🦋cling disciplines."
