The UCI Management Committee also approved several propositions from the Equipment and New Technologies Commission for modification to the UCI Regulations linked to equipment design. Some of these propositions follow recommendations made by SafeR, the organisation dedicated to safety in professional road cycling. The increasing speed of races and the safety implications of developments in equipment are one of SafeR’s main areas of focus. This has been the subject of detailed consultations with teams, organisers and riders, including the distribution of questionnaires to all professional riders and teams.
It has therefore been decided to set the maximum height of bicycle rims for mass start road events at 65mm as of 1 January 2026.
As of the same date, the minimum overall width of handlebars (outside to outside) for mass start road and cyclo-cross events will be set at 400mm, with an inner width of 320mm between brake levers. Meanwhile, the minimum overall width of handlebars (outside to outside) for mass start track events will be set at 350mm as of 1 January 2027.
The bar width one is going to be annoying for a lot of women and smaller guys. All of mine are fine as I run 38s.
I’m more annoyed about the rim depth. I just bought a set of ENVE 6.7, which would now be illegal. I’m really hoping USAC doesn’t copy the rules over. Lots of crit racers going to be angry.
I guess they’re doing this in an attempt to slow the riders down, but it will hugely discriminate against smaller riders who rely on their ability to cut through the air more cleanly to help make up for the watts they lack.
And the ergonomics for pretty much the entire women’s field will be horrific - hopefully they get organised and kick up a stink about it in the mainstream media - “UCI patriarchy actively discriminating against women in cycling” etc headlines.
The other part is cost, or loss of sales now. Just take ENVE. All the 6.7 wheels are now illegal. Most sizes of the aero bars will now be illegal. Heck, most modern aero cockpits are going to be illegal if they’re 40 or less at the tops. That’s a lot of carbon now sitting unsold, or at least cutting into the sales.
All of my bikes would now be illegal, even my gravel bike with 40cm bars but measure 31 at the brake levers. Could probably rotate them outward but then lose any comfort. To “fix” my bikes (3) would now cost thousands of dollars (two 1-piece cockpits, one standard bar, ENVE wheels).
I bet you go through the Pro field at Tulsa Tough this past weekend and 90% of their bars are now illegal. Probably half of their wheels. And that’s the mens race. The womens race is probably even higher.
Granted this is assuming USAC will copy over the UCI rules like they usually do.
It is 320 mm at the narrowest point of the hoods (or levers, they aren’t clear). My 38 cm bars will be illegal as they have 4 degree flare so the hoods point in. Even some 40 cm bars will be illegal.
Hardly lots - 99% of bike riders don’t race in sanctioned events where these rules impact things.
This is a performance oriented forum. I’d be very surprised if most people here aren’t doing at least some race once a year.
Regardless, obviously this is for racers. If you don’t race then yea, scroll on through.
I don’t know. I’m hoping it’s the bars, not the hoods. Because that would drastically change things. The way it’s written could allow for some slight difference in interpretation, and maybe race directors will be lenient. If it’s bars, all of my bikes are fine. If it’s hoods, all of my bikes (even the gravel bike) are illegal.
I’ve just seen from Aerocoach that it is hoods narrowest point. So all your bikes are illegal (and same with me, including my gravel bike which is 47 cm at the drops so not exactly a super narrow bar).
Pour one out for Dylan Johnson. And probably most of the top guys. Our only hope is that USAC doesn’t adopt the same rules like they usually do.
Does UCI have a history of revising rules if there’s enough pushback? Seems like there are other ways to slow people down for safety if that’s a concern (e.g. chainring sizing maybe?).
I won’t be in any UCI race anytime soon, but I’m 6’5" and ride 37/42 Enve bars like OP. I feel for smaller folks who don’t want ridiculously wide bars 
I’m in the UK and we adopt UCI rules quite quickly, I see this coming to our newly developed road bike TT scene. I just frankly won’t race, I’m not paying £300+ (new bars and internal cables) to make my road bike slower and less comfortable.
I assume gravel is pretty easy on rules? How about UCI based gravel races that are in most of the Europe? You’ll end up with lifetime GP bikes and UCI gravel bikes.
For some reason I thought Unbound was a USAC regulated event.
USAC usually follows the UCI rules so it’ll be interesting to see if they adopt these rules. If they do, most crit racers are now in violation. I’d hate to see race regs drop because of equipment rules. I’d definitely consider whether it’s worth it to fix all my bikes to make them compliant or just stop racing.
Maybe get some more grassroots events.
All of these rule changes are idiotic and do not solve any safety issues that I am aware of. Were there any accidents where large rim depth or very narrow handlebars were a factor?
If the rule for handlebars applies to women as well, then smaller athletes could have issues getting a good bike fit.
100% this. super discriminatory for the women’s field. It’s like the UCI is completely unaware that women typically have narrower shoulders than men and in turn require narrower bars to get a proper fit.
BAD UCI, BAD! No Cookie for you.
This. I don’t think there’s any feeling among people outside of the UCI that bar width or rim depth have a significant impact on safety. As long as it’s not something like this pic, it’s not dangerous.
How about regulating and enforcing things that actually impact safety:
- Properly setup barriers and barrier designs that aren’t themselves safety hazards
- Calling off races or stages when the weather creates hazards
- Consistently enforcing riders sticking to their lines in sprints
This.
But implementing this is more difficult and costly than to tell manufacturers to stuff it and make wider bars. I fear that this simple explanation is also the best.
The UCI’s rules have really stifled the evolution of road bikes. If you look at the most interesting dropbar cycling segment, gravel racing, this has taken of precisely, because it was not strongly regulated.
Why are there rules on max tire width (implicitly, at least, by regulating the max tire diameter)? If pro cyclists want to race on 40 mm slicks, then why not? (Not arguing 40 mm tires are faster.) The UCI should only regulate once it has become clear that certain things have become problematic.
They are simply using the same approximation that other industries will often do: women ≈ small men. Done. 
Agreed and they need to rule in a way which works for athletes from 4’ (122 cm) [juniors and smaller women] to 7’ (213 cm). That might mean different allowed dimensions based on your height instead of a one size fits all approach. Right now they set the rules for saddle position, bar width, etc assuming everyone is 5’ 6” (168 cm) to 6’ (183 cm).
IDK. I think most here are training fitness for health, general riding, group rides, and sportives, and not races sanctioned by the UCI or other similar body. Last time I raced in USAC events was over 13 years ago.
Thing is that the UCI largely determines what “proper” road bikes look like. So even for us regular people their rules do have an impact. E. g. the race to lower the weight has stopped, because of the UCI’s 6.9 kg rule.