New UCI equipment approval process to come into force in January 1st

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced a new approval procedure for bicycle frames and forks, which will come into force on January 1st 2011. The procedure will result in the granting of a label, which will certify that new components comply with UCI technical regulations 1.3.001 through 1.2.025, which govern the size and shape of each part of the bicycle.

The process was reportedly welcomed by many of the major manufactures of frames, forks, components and clothing on September 1st at the Eurobike show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. While the UCI regulations themselves will not change, it is hoped that incidents where riders are prevented from taking the start on bikes that race comissaires deem illegal are prevented.

One of the more high-profile incidents of this kind happened at the Volta ao Algarve in February this year, where comissaires ruled that Alberto Contador’s (Astana) Specialized Shiv time trial bike contravened regulations. Contador was forced to switch to a Transition frame at the last minute, but not before team mechanics had to take a saw to it in order to get his position correct.

The case was especially controversial because the frame had already been ridden to several victories by Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), including that of the 2009 World Championships, where apparently it had been acceptable.

The new process seeks to prevent future incidents such as this and, says the UCI, simplify matters in the following ways:

• The manufacturers will be assured of the conformity of their products before they go into production phase; they will therefore be able to take maximum advantage of the most recent technologies, notably concerning composite materials, without running the risk of investing resources in equipment that may then be declared non-conform with the regulations;
• the collaboration between the UCI and the manufacturers, in particular concerning the exchange of information, will be easier, within a context of strict confidentiality;
• the controversies over the conformity or otherwise of a particular piece of equipment as well as the banning of equipment at the start of races will once and for all be in the past;
• the work of Commissaires who inspect equipment at the start of event will be made much easier;
• the riders – from the professional athlete to amateur sportsmen and sportswomen – will be assured that they have acquired a model that conforms to the UCI regulation in force at the time of purchase;
• in addition, the label will provide added value to frames and forks which have obtained it, benefitting the concerned manufacturers.

Any new frames and forks, still in the development stages, will be subject to the nw aproval process, while 2010 and 2009 frames and forks will have to apply for backdated approval. Older model will not be subject to the new process, but will obviously still have to conform to UCI regulations.

Currently the process only applies to frames and forks, but will be rolled out to include wheels, handlebars, saddles and clothing in future.