Following on from last weekend’s Paris-Roubaix where Francisco Ventoso of Movistar suffered an injury to his leg which he later attributed to being cut by a rotor of a disc brake, the The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced yesterday that the trialling of disc brakes is to be suspended.
The brakes have been tested for less than a year. The UCI did confirm though that they will continue consultations with the various stakeholders on the matter.
The press release from the UCI is as follows:
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today announces that it has decided to suspend, with immediate effect, the trial of disc brakes currently being carried out in road races.
This decision follows a request to do so made by the Association Internationale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels (AIGCP) – which represents all professional cycling teams – following the injuries suffered by Movistar Team rider Francisco Ventoso at Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix Classic. This request is supported by the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA), which represents riders.
The first tests of disc brakes were carried out in August and September 2015. UCI WorldTeams were given the possibility to test bikes mounted with these brakes at two events of their choice. After in-depth discussions with stakeholders, the UCI then decided to authorise riders from all categories of professional road teams to use disc brakes in 2016, and to closely monitor their use during the year.
The UCI will now continue its extensive consultations on this subject by way of its Equipment Commission, which is made up of representatives of teams, riders, mechanics, fans, commissaires and the bicycle industry – via the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) –, all the while reaffirming that rider security has always been and will always remain its absolute priority.
Ray Prendergast
Sad pic…
Always had my doubts about their safety even on club runs! #too fierce #lethal weapon
Maybe they should’ve focused on the motos and vehicles. They KILL riders!
You could almost predict that this would happen. The first race where they had an accident in which discs were involved, there was bound to be a complete overreaction. That said, as far as I’m concerned, let the riders take a vote and leave it at that. If they don’t want discs, then fine, they don’t have to have discs. I think it’s silly — especially considering it’s one instance, and there a broad variety of items in a race that injure riders (as others have astutely pointed out) — but let’s have the riders render judgement on safety, even if they’re going to be a little on the hysterical side.