From January 1, 2026, the UCI will impose new standards for handlebars in events on route and cyclo-cross with mass start, following a decision by its Steering Committee in June. The International Federation, however, reversed its initial decisions, with regulations aimed at imposing a minimum width for safety reasons that were less stringent than initially planned.
After consultation with stakeholders, including the cycling industry and the Equipment and New Technologies Commission, the dimensions set are:
- a minimum total width of 400 mm (outside to outside)
- un flare maximum 65 mm
- a maximum internal width of 280 mm between the internal parts of the brake levers (compared to 320 mm initially planned).
These measures, aimed at limiting speed via air resistance, could see the lever limit revised in 2026 after further consultations with stakeholders.
