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![\"SRAM](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Jonas-Vingegaard_Cervelo-S5_20250702_SvB_A6300_BR_0848.jpg\")
The BCA determined the rule unfairly targets SRAM. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\nThe Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has ordered the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to suspend its planned trial of gearing restrictions at next week\u2019s Tour of Guangxi, ruling that the initiative may breach competition law, and unfairly harm SRAM and its sponsored teams.<\/p>\n
In a decision issued on 9 October, the BCA said the UCI\u2019s ruling \u2013 which sought to cap gearing at 54x11t \u2013 “does not meet the required conditions of objectivity and transparency” and risks creating “serious and difficult to repair” harm for SRAM.<\/p>\n
The authority recognised the UCI\u2019s responsibility to regulate to improve safety, but said “the procedures for determining technical standards enacted for this purpose\u2026 must meet essential conditions of proportionality, objectivity, transparency and non-discrimination in view of the economic consequences of these standards”, in a statement.<\/p>\n
The BCA noted that SRAM \u2013 which brought the case to the BCA \u2013\u00a0 is “the only one that does not currently have a product meeting the requirements of the Maximum Gear Ratio Standard”, and that the rule “adopted under disputable conditions, is likely to cause harm to SRAM\u2026 [and] extends to professional cycling teams equipped with SRAM [drivetrains]”.<\/p>\n
Last month, the American brand said the gearing restriction unfairly targeted its equipment, alleging the rule was “adopted without consultation or transparency” and amounted to an abuse of competition law.<\/p>\n
The BCA therefore ordered the UCI to suspend the rule immediately, and barred it from imposing any similar transmission ratio limits “until the UCI adopts a new safety measure based on a transparent, objective and non-discriminatory procedure, or until a decision on the merits is adopted”.<\/p>\n
UCI vows to appeal
\nThe BCA determined the rule unfairly targets SRAM. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n
The UCI responded with a strongly worded statement, confirming the trial will not go ahead in Guangxi but criticising the intervention.<\/p>\n
“The UCI expresses its surprise at the intervention of a competition authority on a subject desired by all stakeholders of cycling, the scope of which was limited to analysing the effects that limiting gear ratios may have on riders’ speed and therefore on safety,” the statement reads.<\/p>\n
The governing body added that it “deeply regrets that riders\u2019 safety does not appear to be a shared objective with those who challenged the implementation”, and reaffirmed that the protocol was recommended by SafeR \u2013 the body representing riders, teams and organisers.<\/p>\n
The UCI said it will appeal the BCA\u2019s decision and may adjust the protocol “to allow for the implementation of the tests desired by all stakeholders in professional road cycling”.<\/p>\n
What happens next?
\n![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/The-Formula-1-Effect-SI202501100524.jpg\")
Influential names in sport have thrown doubt on the UCI’s claims that gearing restrictions will improve rider safety. Sebastian Marko \/ Limex Images<\/p>\n
The BCA\u2019s statement also required the UCI to publish a press release acknowledging that the gearing rule is suspended and to reference the BCA\u2019s decision, warning that penalties may follow if the UCI fails to comply.<\/p>\n
For now, the gearing restriction will not apply at the Tour of Guangxi, and it\u2019s unclear what will happen next.<\/p>\n