57 manufactures see 96 models approved as UCI legal and race ready
The UCI has hailed its stickering program a success, with 57 manufacturers paying the £3,300 fee to see their bikes approved for racing in the first year.
Introduced to the dismay of many in the industry in March last year, the UCI's homologation program is perhaps small change to larger manufacturers, though smaller fish will be hit harder should they wish to see their bikes on the start line of any top level UCI road races. The stickering program is to be applied beyond just road and track racing, however, with some speculating that eventually even aerodynamic clothing could be subject to a UCI approval.
In fact, the next target is in the UCI's sights. Wheel manufacturers beware, according to the release: "To reinforce the approval procedure, the UCI is preparing to extend the label to cover other bike components, starting with the security of wheels."
Originally the sport's governing body set the price for approvals at £8,000, though this was reduced by a drastic margin when the industry began to question the heavy price tag.
All models of frames and forks produced after 1st January 2011 must sport the label in order to be used in road, track and cyclo-cross events on the UCI calendar.
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UCI Technical Coordinator Julien Carron explains why the program is necessary stating: “This approval procedure benefits at the same time the cycling industry, riders, their teams and the commissaires. It is a service provided by the UCI which does not generate any profit.
"The aim is to guarantee a better equity between the riders, informing them which models to choose to be sure that they can take the start of races.”
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3 comments
Total and utter bullshit, the UCI didnt even know what an open mould was 12 months ago, these pillocks are charged with the sport not manufacturing and anyone who thinks this has anything to do with rider safety obviously went to the Cinderella school of econimics
Steve Fenton Feb 14th 2012 at 3:30AM
0 1I couldn't agree more, Steve. Once they really get their teeth into this and the cash register starts ringing, then we'll see how "non-profit making" this is ... Bear in mind, this is effectively going to be an annual charge for many builders as it'll be levied each time the mould for a model changes (in the case of composites), each time a tube profile changes (in the case of fabricated composites & traditional metal frames). Shoes, clothing, handlebars, saddles are all in the firing line. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with rider safety & in fact if one troubles oneself to look back to early comment and press releases by the UCI, the ORIGINAL rationale that was given for it was to make it easier for riders to arrive atInternational competition with frames that satisfied the UCI's dimensional requirement & an early statement specifically EXCLUDED rider safety as a factor. As soon as the furore hit (the industry as a whole sleep-walked into this one), then and only then, did Pat and the boys start banging on about rider safety, and area in which Mr McQ showed a woeful lack of knowledge in relation to frame building and technology with his ill-advised comments about "carbon frames for $40 out of China" ... I'm still looking, Pat ... Equity between riders - oh, come on guys, there are far, far bigger fish to fry in that area ...
Graeme King Feb 18th 2012 at 11:19PM
0 0Clearly the Cartel is not getting enough Cash from China for holding races there
Ky Kay Feb 21st 2012 at 3:02PM
0 0