{"id":19427,"date":"2025-07-24T02:09:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T02:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/19427\/"},"modified":"2025-07-24T02:09:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T02:09:07","slug":"cyclings-governing-body-is-introducing-new-rules-to-slow-down-elite-riders-not-everyones-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/19427\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycling\u2019s governing body is introducing new rules to slow down elite riders. Not everyone\u2019s happy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most sports look to support their athletes to become \u201cfaster, higher, stronger\u201d \u2013 in reference to the Olympic Games\u2019 original motto<\/a> \u2013 so it is perhaps surprising that cycling\u2019s world governing body is trying to slow down elite riders.<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s good reason the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) recently announced new rules<\/a> to slow riders down.<\/p>\n

These rules \u2013 which apply to elite road and cyclo-cross mass-start events for men and women such as the Tour de France \u2013 come into place shortly and are aimed at improving rider safety.<\/p>\n

Read more:
\n I rode the Tour de France to study its impact on the human body \u2013\u00a0here’s what I learned<\/a><\/p>\n

What are the new rules?<\/p>\n

From August 1, a new bicycle gearing regulation will kick in. <\/p>\n

Professional cyclists will only be allowed to use a 54-tooth<\/a> front chainring with an 11-tooth rear cog. <\/p>\n

This replaces the current common setup of 54-10. <\/p>\n

To put this into context, a 54-tooth chainring is the big front gear on a bike and the 11-tooth cog is a small rear gear. Moving to a slightly bigger cog (54-11) makes it harder to hit top speeds<\/a>: the change from a 54-10 to a 54-11 gear setup could reduce the top speed by about 2.4 kilometres per hour<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Pro riders can reach incredible speeds during descents, sometimes surpassing 130 kilometres per hour<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Then, from January 1 2026, handlebars must become wider, increasing from a minimum 350\u2013360 millimetres width (depending on the event<\/a>) to at least 400mm wide<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The handlebar width<\/a> affects how a rider controls their bike: narrower bars reduce frontal surface area, making a rider more aerodynamic which again means a faster ride. <\/p>\n

This is especially useful in time trials or sprints.<\/p>\n

Wider bars offer better stability and control, helping navigate tight turns, peloton traffic, or crosswinds.<\/p>\n

The UCI has also announced plans to introduce a formal helmet approval protocol in 2027, which will include separate standards for helmets used in mass-start events and time trials. <\/p>\n

This shift suggests helmets may soon be subject to the same pre-race approval<\/a> process as frames and wheels, potentially leading to safer, more regulated head protection. <\/p>\n

New rules, different opinions<\/p>\n

Professional cycling is getting faster<\/a> due to stronger athletes, better training and advanced, lighter equipment<\/a>. <\/p>\n

As a result, high-speed crashes, especially downhill or in crowded sprint finishes, have become more common and more dangerous. <\/p>\n

The UCI maintain the new regulations are part of a broader strategy to mitigate speed-related risks, enhance safety<\/a> and uphold the integrity of the sport<\/a>. <\/p>\n

However, these measures have sparked debate within the cycling community. <\/p>\n

Some elite cyclists, particularly those who have suffered severe crashes and injuries, suggest it is time safety caught up with technology. <\/p>\n

Wout van Aert, who suffered a severe knee injury in September 2024 during a wet descent, said<\/a>: <\/p>\n

Limiting the number of gears would make the sport much safer. <\/p>\n

Chris Froome, four-time Tour de France winner, also said he supported strategies \u201cto keep the speeds down on the descents<\/a>\u201d. <\/p>\n

The Professional Cycling Council supports<\/a> testing gear ratio limits. <\/p>\n

It is also likely these changes could limit cutting-edge innovations that only wealthy teams can afford. This would in turn narrow technological disparities<\/a> across teams. <\/p>\n

Former pro Michael Barry though believes gear restrictions are not the answer<\/a>, and the UCI should instead focus on improved course design and inspection, better barriers and crash protective clothing.<\/p>\n

Technology experts agree, arguing speed is determined more by a rider\u2019s power output and aerodynamic drag than by gear ratios. To enhance safety, they propose alternative solutions<\/a> such as real-time rider tracking, crash-protective clothing, improved course design and inspection and faster medical response. <\/p>\n

The wider handlebar rule has also stirred controversy, especially among smaller-framed riders, many of whom are women, who typically ride with 360\u2013380mm handlebars for better comfort and control. <\/p>\n

Under the new regulation, those forced to use bars that exceed their optimal fit range could end up suffering from<\/a> poor wrist alignment, increased fatigue<\/a> and a higher risk of repetitive strain injuries. <\/p>\n

Despite the growth of women\u2019s cycling<\/a>, the UCI has not made exemptions for smaller riders, raising concerns a one-size-fits-all solution may compromise inclusively and safety. <\/p>\n

Even though regular riders can continue to use the equipment they prefer, what happens in the pro world often shapes non-elite rider preferences and trends, and the bikes sold in stores. If narrower bars are banned at the top level, manufacturers may stop offering them. <\/p>\n

Historically, advancements in aerodynamics, gear ratios and component weights seen in the pro peloton have become standard features on consumer bikes. <\/p>\n

A delicate balance<\/p>\n

The UCI\u2019s new regulations mark a likely shift towards standardised equipment and heightened safety. This deliberate emphasis on safety naturally elevates awareness among all cyclists about the crucial link between equipment choices and rider wellbeing. <\/p>\n

While these restrictions may foster a more level playing field, they also risk curbing the sport\u2019s long-standing tradition of engineering innovation. <\/p>\n

The very appeal of professional cycling has often been intrinsically tied to the relentless pursuit of technological advancements that yield even fractional competitive advantages. <\/p>\n

Striking a balance between ensuring safety and preserving this spirit of ingenuity remains a crucial challenge for the sport\u2019s future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Most sports look to support their athletes to become \u201cfaster, higher, stronger\u201d \u2013 in reference to the Olympic…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19428,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,82],"class_list":["post-19427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19427\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}