UCI stopped in its tracks by Belgian institute during maximum gearing test, SRAM gets the last laugh

According to the UCI, the so-called "Maximum Gearing Test Protocol" was intended to provide initial insight into whether smaller gears in the cycling peloton lead to greater safety. In recent years, some cycling teams have complained about the ever-increasing speeds in the pack, caused by ever faster equipment and larger gears.

In the Tour of Guangxi, organized from October 14 to 19, the UCI wanted to test a limit on gear ratios. Equipment supplier SRAM, the manufacturer of the SRAM RED AXS, with 54 teeth at the front and 10 sprockets at the rear, appealed against this intention. Many teams use this system, but the UCI wanted to test with a maximum of 54 teeth at the front and 11 sprockets at the rear.

SRAM did not think the test was such a good idea, and was proven right by Belgium. “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 decision was taken by a Belgian authority responding to a complaint from a US company against a Swiss sports association regarding a test to be carried out on Chinese territory," the UCI summarised. It states outright that SRAM's complaint is not about the safety of riders as a ‘shared objective’.

The cycling federation is appealing, but it remains to be seen whether this will achieve anything. The disqualification of five teams in women's cycling earlier this year highlighted the difficulty of this issue. "Changes may also be made to the Testing Protocol to allow for the implementation of the tests desired by all stakeholders in professional road cycling."