Cycling world reacts to 'discriminatory’ new handlebar rules: "All our female riders must change their handlebars"

After consultation with and recommendations from SafeR (an international safety body in sport, ed.), the UCI announced on its website that several new measures would be introduced. For example, the maximum rim height will be 65 millimeters; the front fork may be a maximum of 115 millimeters wide; the rear fork may be 30 millimeters wider. There will also be a helmet approval protocol: the UCI wants more precise specifications on what is and is not allowed regarding helmets.

Some of these rules will come into effect next year, while others will only be implemented from 2027. Also, starting in 2026, there will be new regulations on handlebar width. For road cyclists and cyclo-cross riders, these may not be narrower than 400 millimeters. And that doesn't sit well with a lot of people. "These new rules are hugely discriminatory against women and smaller men," an anonymous source told Bikeradar. "Cervélo said in the last meeting that 14 of the 18 women at Visma | Lease a Bike had to change their handlebars."

According to the UCI, the rules were formulated in consultation with industry giants, but according to the anonymous source, that means nothing. "They have ignored everything the industry has said. Literally everything." People in the professional peloton also voice their opinions about the strange announcement. Karl Lima, team manager of the women's team Coop-Repsol, responded to the new rules on social media. "All 13 of our riders ride with handlebars less than 40 centimeters wide."

Niamh Fisher-Black also seems unhappy with the rule changes. The climber from Lidl-Trek is 1.60 meters tall and very slim. She posted a photo on Instagram showing the bizarre new handlebar dimensions with a tape measure. From shoulder to shoulder, the New Zealander measures barely 30 centimeters. Will she now have to ride with handlebars 10 centimeters wider than she is? According to the UCI, yes, but we shouldn't be surprised if this has further repercussions.