Question Why aren't the UCI banning aero in road races - speed safety?

[Strawberry_Jams]

Following Van Uden's win yesterday, at what point do the UCI step in and limit/ban aero helmets/aero gear in road races? This seemed to start with aerosuits in sprint stages over 10 years ago now, and has now reached the point of visors on aero helmets. Can the cat be put back in the box?
In the past there have been examples of the UCI banning certain items Jumbos 'golf ball' helmets/Sky had one at the tdf iirc.

I understand the need for R&D, but surely this has to be limited depending on the discipline.
The rise in speed
Increase in high risk crashes
awareness around individuals in the bunch with limited viewing ie the pinic helmets yesterday

by banning is this not something that can help to reduce risk to all those points?

and with a purely aesthetical hat on, it's ugly (the stretched skinsuits with sponsors all over the place), not cool (in both senses) and does nothing for the image of the sport.

 

[Rou]

When I saw how Uden looked yesterday with the full TT helmet and TT visor I honestly thought: '' There is no way this is allowed in a road stage''. Well apparently it is.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Just to play devil's advocate, perhaps with the increased coverage of the head they are potentially safer.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

While I'm not really opposed to some regulation on kit in principle, I have two main problems with this idea. First, is there a de jure definition of what a TT helmet is? Of course we know that what the Picknik guys were wearing yesterday is generally used in TT, but if there is not a precise rule about what is allowed in TT and road stages such rule may end up a mess. Second, I do not think these kit really makes a difference on safety when we look at it in terms of speed as the advantage they provide, while significant in term of performance, is not that big in general: even if we assume a couple of km/h gained in the sprint, that can surely be the difference between a win and a top five, but i doubt crashing at 70 rather than 72 km/h is significantly better. However, i still think you can argue a TT helmet may be more dangerous because it limits lateral visibility, which, while not a problem in TTs, can result in dangerous situations in a pack.

 

[ashhutch1997]

I would argue a lot of bikes these days aren't as areo as 5+ years ago. Brands like Trek and Specialized have moved away from areodynamic specific bikes to more 'all round bikes".
Regardless, the UCI will ban TT helmets in road races after yesterday.

 

[E_F_]

Well seeing as unfaired diamond frame bikes are about the least aerodynamic bikes possible, I'd say they are - technically - already doing a lot lmao. But yeah, I think it's worth considering finding ways to slow them down (even further lol).

Limits on chainring sizes for downhills would make a lot of sense, but it could open up for some serious cheating. Increasing the minimum weight of the bikes - and the minimum tyre width?

Only allowing steel frames? Only wool jerseys?? Fixed gears???

More seriously, I think it should be relatively easy to ban aero helmets. Obviously might need to continue refining the definition as teams find loopholes, but start with something about it being a styrofoam (or whatever they're made of) structure with a bunch of holes in it, something about it being less than half a sphere, no visors below the front rim, and such. And banning speedsuit as well: Waste up you have to be wearing a jersey with a zipper down the middle.

 

[pastronef]

I would argue a lot of bikes these days aren't as areo as 5+ years ago. Brands like Trek and Specialized have moved away from areodynamic specific bikes to more 'all round bikes".
Regardless, the UCI will ban TT helmets in road races after yesterday.

Visma been riding with TT helmets since Omloop or even earlier

 

[Berniece]

Maybe start focussing on the route and safety measures taken there

 

[Netserk]

 

[Panda Claws]

Just install a speed limit and make bikes automatically brake hard when exceeded.

Speed limit for the season gets based on determined FTP in tests that UCI organises in the off-season.

 

[veganrob]

I would argue a lot of bikes these days aren't as areo as 5+ years ago. Brands like Trek and Specialized have moved away from areodynamic specific bikes to more 'all round bikes".
Regardless, the UCI will ban TT helmets in road races after yesterday.

Trek eliminated their all around bike which was the Emonda and went all in on aero continuing the Madone. At some point in the future it may change but not now. It is all about aero.

 

[proffate]

I actually thought you had to have the ears uncovered in road stages, which is true of visma's visorless helmets and the poc roadish helmet.