Will the UCI be forced into an embarrassing U-turn on narrow handlebar rule? Governing body’s “crazy” one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t make sense, riders say

If the bigwigs at the UCI thought they could get away with sneaking through a host of controversial new tech rules and regulations without anyone noticing, just weeks before the start of the Tour de France, they were gravely mistaken.

The governing body’s latest overhaul of its equipment standards, hidden in plain sight in the middle of an interminably long statement detailing its recent management committee meeting in France, has provoked quite the reaction within the cycling world.

Introduced ostensibly to deal with the “safety implications” of the increasing speed of professional races, the new rules – most of which are set to come into effect from next January – will see time trial helmets banned in road races, a maximum rim height set, and a new fork width limit introduced, putting Factor’s radical track-inspired bike in danger before our eyes have even adjusted to its super-wide forks.

But it’s the UCI’s decision to implement a new minimum handlebar width of 400mm that’s got the most tongues wagging, with riders and bike fitting experts criticising the governing body’s “one-size-fits-all” approach to bar width, which some claim could unfairly impact women and smaller men, while having a knock-on effect on safety and comfort.

Over the past few years, the number of pro riders using narrow bars with even narrower shifter hoods has increased dramatically, inspired, perhaps, by the UCI’s decision in 2021 to ban the aero ‘puppy paws’ position (where riders rest their forearms loosely on the tops of the bars) on safety grounds.

While most modern bar choices remain a far cry from the ultra-narrow and boundary-pushing Dutchman Jan Willem Van Schip, many riders – including Tom Pidcock – now opt for 360mm bars, as the peloton strives for ever narrower positions.

Of course, aerodynamics play an important role in this modern handlebar trend, with most sources indicating that for every 2cm closer together you bring your hands there’s a 25W advantage when travelling at 40kph.

But comfort and biomechanics are also key, with riders tending to be more comfortable and better supported on narrower bars thanks to recent advances in bike fitting knowledge.

However, the UCI have long been sceptics of narrow bars – on safety grounds, they insist, due to their potential to reduce stability, especially in a fast-moving bunch – first introducing a minimum overall width of 350mm back in 2022.

And last week, the governing body announced that this minimum width is set for another overhaul. From 1 January 2026, the minimum overall width of handlebars (outside to outside) for mass start road and cyclocross events will be set at 400mm, with a max inner width of 320mm between brake levers.

And while the 2022 rule change only really affected the Van Schips and Dan Bighams of the cycling world, this new regulation will have a considerable impact on many riders’ and team’s equipment choices.

This will especially prove the case in the women’s peloton, where every rider on the Coop–Hitec Products team rides bars narrower than 400mm, while 14 of Visma-Lease Bike’s 18-rider squad will need to change their set-up.

According to the UCI, this new bar width limit, like the rest of its equipment overhaul, was based on recommendations made by SafeR, the governing body’s organisation set up to assess safety in the peloton.

“The increasing speed of races and the safety implications of developments in equipment are one of SafeR’s main areas of focus,” the UCI said last week.

“This has been the subject of detailed consultations with teams, organisers, and riders, including the distribution of questionnaires to all professional riders and teams.”

> Is this the end for TT-style helmets in road races? UCI announces new limits on handlebar width, rim height, and fork width, and promises helmet review in equipment safety overhaul

However, despite the implication that the changes were made with the support of the peloton, many pundits and experts have been left scratching their heads in disbelief.

road.cc tech writer Emily Tillet, a cycling coach and former GB rider and national junior individual pursuit champion, says she “cannot understand how the rule change got approved in the first place”.

“It seems like a crazy decision that completely overlooks the needs of smaller riders, not just women,” she says.

“Forcing a one-size-fits all approach just doesn’t make sense biomechanically. The fact that so many female riders would need to change their bars should set off some alarm bells.

“The rule claims to increase control and stability and reduce top speeds, but ironically may leave many riders feeling less in control and compromising comfort for long stages. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a U-turn on this one.”

Meanwhile, the president of the International Bike Fitting Institute has warned that the UCI’s “well-meaning rule” could “unintentionally compromise rider health, safety, and long-term participation in cycling”.

“As fitters, we know there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution, especially when it comes to contact points like the handlebar,” Lee Prescott said in a blog post following the UCI’s announcement.

“Biomechanically, most riders, particularly smaller-framed individuals, women, and juniors, naturally fall within the 360-380mm range for optimal bar width. Forcing them to use 400mm bars compromises shoulder alignment, increases strain, and degrades overall comfort and efficiency on the bike.”

> Tech trends: Narrow bars with shifters angled inwards – should you be copying the pros to ride faster?

Any attempts by riders to work their way around the impending rule change, such as tilting their lever hoods dramatically inward to achieve a narrower position, could have a serious impact on safety and comfort, Prescott points out.

“This adaptation significantly reduces the rider’s ability to safely and confidently reach the brake levers from the drops – a critical control position, especially during high-speed descents or sprints,” he wrote.

“Not only does this diminish safety, but it also puts riders in awkward wrist and hand positions that can lead to numbness, discomfort, and long-term injury.”

He continued: “Beyond the riders themselves, the regulation is already causing ripple effects in the cycling industry. Manufacturers, wary of regulatory constraints, are beginning to limit production of narrower handlebars.

“This could further reduce access to ergonomically appropriate equipment for the vast majority of everyday cyclists, not just professionals. The result? More riders on ill-fitting bikes, experiencing discomfort, and potentially walking away from the sport altogether.”

In short, it seems like the UCI hasn’t thought this one all the way through. Could an embarrassing U-turn be on the cards soon?