Cycling: Like the Australian cycling portal CyclingTips reported, the UCI is planning to resume disc brake testing in the professional sector next June. The test phase was suspended after Paris-Roubaix, when Movistar driver Ventoso claimed to have been injured by a brake disc and called for the test to be paused.
The UCI's zigzag course on the subject of disc brakes seems to be continuing. The cycling portal CyclingTips reported during the night that it had come into possession of internal documents from the UCI showing that the test phase for disc brakes in the pro peloton would continue as early as June. Last week, representatives of the UCI talked to the members of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) about the problem and came to a solution. The WFSGI is a global industry and lobby association of sporting goods and equipment manufacturers, which of course is primarily concerned with the advantages for component and bike suppliers.
[newsbox style=”nb4″ title=”Background – Disc Brakes” display=”tag” tag=”Disc Brakes” number_of_posts=”3″ nb_excerpt=”0″ sub_categories=”no” show_more=”no” post_type=”post”]During the talks between the two federations, a medical report was also discussed, which allegedly proves that Ventoso's injuries were not caused by a brake disc but by a chainring. What is piquant about this report, however, is that it was commissioned by the WFSGI, which, as mentioned, does not necessarily take a neutral, objective position in these negotiations. However, the minutes of the conversation also show that the UCI Equipment Committee understood the message from the riders and repeatedly raised the concerns of the professionals and the potential hazards of brake discs with the industry association.
In a first step, it was now agreed that the brake discs used in the professional sector must from now on be deburred and rounded at the edges in order to minimize the risk of injury. Further measures such as the covers required by the professionals are not planned at the moment, but are not categorically ruled out either. In September, they want to evaluate the results of the second test phase and possibly discuss further steps.
An official report from the UCI is still pending at this point in time - we will keep you up to date.
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