UCI's controversial new handlebar rules spark outrage as pro cyclist Filippo D'Aiuto is disqualified from a 60km solo win, with his team claiming 'illegal brake levers' were bent in a crash. The Italian pro cyclist's triumph at the Polese Memorial race near Treviso was abruptly halted when race officials measured his handlebars and deemed the distance between his brake levers too narrow, despite the bike being compliant at the start.
The UCI's new rules, introduced at the start of the season, mandate a minimum bar width of 400mm and a minimum distance of 280mm between brake hoods, sparking widespread criticism from riders and industry professionals. Safety was the UCI's stated reason for the rules, aiming to curb what they perceive as 'extreme' setups. However, many question the impact on smaller riders and the female peloton, who now face the challenge of using wider bars than prescribed by bike-fitting experts.
D'Aiuto's team, General Store-Essegibi-F.lli Curia, defended their rider, attributing the irregularity to a crash that bent a brake lever inwards, causing it to fall below the commissaire's measurement threshold. The team's statement emphasized the bike's compliance at the start, despite the post-race incident. Lorenzo Magli, who finished second, was promoted to first place following D'Aiuto's disqualification, but he and Davide Boscaro left the top step empty as a sign of respect.
D'Aiuto expressed frustration, stating, 'It's ridiculous and the judges will look ridiculous. I won, there's not much else to say.' He claimed that the crash twisted his brake levers inwards, and the commissaires' suggestion to stop and adjust his handlebars was impractical given the minute gap he held. The petition on change.org, signed by at least 7,000 people, highlights the unfairness of the rules for smaller and female riders, advocating for equipment diversity to accommodate varying body types and biomechanics.
