One of the stakeholders involved in recent meetings with the newly formed UCI Equipment Commission, told Bike Europe on the expected approval in 2016. This was disclosed after a discussion started in The Netherlands in response to a publication by Bike Europe's sister magazine 'Tweewieler'. This publication, targeted to dealers in the Benelux markets, said that UCI approved disc brakes were to be expected already for 2015.

World Federation Sporting Goods Industry

Reactions on this report by www.tweewieler.nl said that it would not be in 2015, but much more likely to come in 2016 and even 2017. Due to this Bike Europe contacted the representative for the bicycle industry in the World Federation Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) Board of Directors, Jeroen Snijders Blok (COO Accell Group). The WFSGI is conducting all the meetings with the UCI Equipment Commission.

UCI wants examination

Snijders Blok said: "The report on Tweewieler.nl surprised me. It is true that we are getting positive responses in our meetings with the UCI. But despite that it will take longer than 2015 for the UCI to approve the usage of disc brakes in professional road racing. That it will take longer is caused by an extensive examination the UCI wants on the consequences the usage of disc brakes will have.

Clarification

"They want to know more on what for instance happens at 80km/h descents; what's the heat then at carbon rims? Could this cause severe skin burns in the event of a fall? The UCI wants to have such matters clarified before any approval."

Snijders Blok furthered: "So, first this examination must be completed and the results discussed. All this means that it will take up to 2016 before professionals will use disc brakes. I do not expect that all this will take up to 2017. The usage of UCI approved disc brakes at WorldTour races will happen in 2016. At least, that's what I expect now."