UCI to Test Gear Restrictions for Safer Cycling Speeds

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced plans to conduct a trial aimed at slowing down professional cyclists by imposing new gear ratio restrictions. The move is intended to enhance safety within the sport. The trial is set to occur during a stage race in the second half of the 2025 season.

The test will focus on limiting the maximum gear ratio to a 54-tooth chain ring with an 11-tooth sprocket. This measure seeks to curb the extreme speeds currently achievable by top-level riders, which have been identified as a major safety risk.

Additionally, SafeR, an organization dedicated to cycling safety, has recommended implementing a minimum handlebar width of 400mm. This new rule will take effect on January 1, 2026, in road and cyclo-cross events featuring a mass start.

(With inputs from agencies.)