New UCI Minimum Handlebar Width Requirements

The UCI recently introduced significant updates to its equipment regulations in 2025, with the most discussed change being new minimum handlebar width requirements for elite-level mass-start road and cyclo-cross events. These rules aim to improve rider safety by preventing ultra-narrow handlebars (and aggressively inward-angled brake hoods), which the UCI and SafeR (the pro cycling safety advisory group) believe can reduce bike control in the peloton, especially at higher speeds.

Background and Timeline

Pre-2026 rules (introduced in 2023): Minimum handlebar width was 350mm outside-to-outside (at the drops). There was no specific minimum between brake hoods, but inward-angled levers were limited (max 10° tilt from 2024).

Pro riders increasingly used 32–38cm bars (c-c at hoods) + heavily turned-in hoods for aero gains, which raised safety concerns.

Original Proposal (Announced June 2025 - no longer valid)

Effective January 1, 2026 for road and cyclo-cross mass-start events.

Minimum 400 mm outside-to-outside (typically at the drops).

Minimum 320 mm between the inner edges of the brake hoods (effectively banning very narrow or aggressively angled hood positions).

This equated to roughly 380 mm center-to-center as a practical minimum for many bars.

Additional limit: Maximum 50 mm offset between hood and drop edge (to control flare/angle).

This proposal faced heavy criticism, especially from the women's peloton, bike fitters, and smaller riders — many women and juniors use 36–38 cm bars comfortably, and forcing 40+ cm was seen as potentially causing wrist/shoulder issues and reducing control (the opposite of the safety goal).

Revised Rule (Updated September 2025, after further consultation)

The UCI partially backtracked while keeping the core safety intent:

Still effective January 1, 2026

Minimum overall width: 400mm outside-to-outside (unchanged — so no bars narrower than ~38–40cm c-c, depending on brand measurement).

Minimum inner width between brake hoods: Reduced to 280mm (from 320mm) — this is a significant relaxation, allowing narrower hood positions and making the rule much more accommodating for smaller riders.

Maximum flare: 65mm per side (increased from the original 50mm limit, giving designers more flexibility).

The UCI noted the hood-to-hood measurement (280mm) will be reviewed again during 2026, with possible further increases in future seasons based on more data.

Banned: True 32–36cm "pro aero" bars with heavily inward-rotated hoods (common on some WorldTour bikes in 2024–2025).

Still legal: Most standard 38cm (c-c) compact/ergonomic bars, especially those with moderate flare. A typical 38cm bar at hoods + a bit of flare easily hits 400mm at the drops and keeps hoods wider than 280mm inside.

If you're racing UCI events (or national-level races that adopt the rules), most modern 38 cm+ bars from major brands will comply without changes. For non-UCI riding, nothing changes — ride whatever fits you best!

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