Disc brakes are returning to road racing in 2017
The UCI is preparing to restart the disc brakes trial within road racing, this time with dulled, rounded disc rotors. There will also be a more formal trial and review process, and approval from the pros.
Mark Barfield, UCI Technical Manager, sent a letter to professional road racers detailing the efforts to begin a safe and effective disc trial, which could happen as early as this coming season. Barfield also requested feedback, inviting athletes to share their thoughts on the new technology.
“We would like to take this opportunity to reach out directly to you as riders to welcome your input during this process,” Barfield said in the letter.
The UCI originally trialled disc brakes in professional road cycling at the end of the 2015 season, and allowed widespread use in 2016, but they were re-banned after Francisco Ventoso suffered a deep gash to his leg at Paris-Roubaix.
The UCI believes that the rounded edges required for the next trial should remove the risk injury and lessen the problems with wheel changes.
“The cycling industry has also worked hard to address the other concerns expressed such as heat build up and dissipation, difference in braking ability and provision of neutral service. A great deal of progress has been made in these areas and the UCI is now carefully considering a restart of the trial in early 2017,” Barfield said.
Barfield requested feedback from the pros regarding the re-start of a trial. “If the trial is re-started we would also like to encourage you to feedback as much as possible during this trial period,” he said. “This would be a genuine test period and not a phased introduction and as such rider input is vital in the decision making process about the future authorisation for disc brake use in road competition.”
