All UCI-registered teams will be allowed to use disc brakes next year. The UCI has also amended its regulations in a move suggesting it is only a matter of time before the brakes can be used in all levels of cycling, including the amateur ranks.
Not known as an organisation that has traditionally embraced technological advances, the UCI has made a major step forward by its own conservative standards in approving the use of disc brakes by pro teams next year.
The world governing body has said the approval amounts to a one-year trial, though it appears the brakes are here to stay.
The approval for use next year of the brakes, which aim to improve the stability of braking and enable faster stopping, is likely to lead to an explosion in new products on the market.
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The idea is not entirely new, with disc brakes having been trialled by the pros in periods of the 2015 road race season.
They have also been used by mountain bikers for two decades and in cyclocross for the last couple of seasons.
During August and September pro road teams were allowed to trial the brakes at two events of their choice.
Announcing that move last April, the UCI said further trials would follow next year with a view to sanctioning the use of the brakes for WorldTour teams in 2017 and all levels of road cycling thereafter.
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And on Monday the organisation confirmed those further trials would involve all pro road teams being permitted to use the brakes throughout all of next year.
The sanctioning applies to WorldTour teams and those at Pro Continental and Continental level, as well as UCI women’s teams.
“The use of disc brakes will be carefully monitored throughout the year with a view to definitively allowing them to be used in professional road cycling from 2017,” the UCI said.
“Following the decision to further test disc brakes, the UCI has modified articles 1.3.017 and 1.3.020 of its Regulations relating to frames and forks. These changes will operate from the 1st of January 2016.
The UCI has also approved several modifications to its Regulations with regards to saddles and wheel safety characteristics (articles 1.3.014 and 1.3.018).
“The former will come into force on the 1st December 2015 and the latter on the 1st January 2016.”
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