UCI confirms disc brake trials to continue in 2016

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has today confirmed that disc brake trials, first allowed this season,  will continue in 2016.

The UCI allowed initial trials during August and September in select events. We saw several teams trialling disc brakes in some races, providing valuable feedback on the use of disc brakes in a professional peloton.

The UCI has previously revealed that a full roll-out of disc brakes would happen in 2017, so this new statement gives each team time to carry out more extensive testing. Provided they have a suitable bike and disc brake groupset to use, as some brands are more ready than others. 

- Team Sky races with disc brakes for the first time

The UCI is allowing WorldTeams, Professional Continental Teams, Continental Teams and Women’s Teams to conduct disc brake trials in 2016. This means we could see a mixed peloton, with some racers on regular brakes and others on disc brakes. There have been fears from some of the racers regarding the differences in braking power leading to crashes.

The press statement doesn’t indicate the details of the trials, so we must presume it is at the discretion of each team to decide when to use the disc-equipped bikes. There has been some debate that the Spring Classics, races like Paris-Roubaix, could be a prime testbed for disc brakes.

Shimano and SRAM both have disc brake systems available but Campagnolo has yet to show any sign that it has a disc brake ready, so it has indicated in the past that it will be ready.

The other disc brake system likely to be used by Mark Cavendish’s new MTN-Qhubeka team is the Rotor Uno hydraulic groupset, which has yet to be released. The team has been spotted testing the new groupset with disc brakes in training this season, and Cervelo unveiled its R3 Disc, so the team looks ready to race with disc brakes.

- MTN-Qhubeka pro spotted testing Cervelo R3 Disc with Rotor Uno hydraulic groupset 

To allow the use of the disc brakes, the UCI has adjusted the rules, with articles 1.3.017 and 1.3.020, both relating to frames and forks, being updated. The rules will come into force on the 1st January 2016.

The main change is the clearance at the fork and rear triangle. Article 1.3.017 states “the distance between the internal extremities of the front forks shall not exceed 10.5 cm; the distance between the internal extremities of the rear triangle shall not exceed 13.5 cm.”

- Shimano set to profit from disc brake demand

We’ve heard some of the feedback from the pro riders. Trek’s Markel Irizar raced a disc-equipped Trek Domane on a stage in the Vuelta a España this year.

“Many riders have been concerned about safety, like when it is really hot and if you crash it can cause damage by cutting someone or even burning. So I think for the future Shimano may have to look at covering the disc, and once we are 100 percent sure that nothing can happen, then I think everyone will use it because for sure in the rain the [braking] difference is going to be huge,” he commented.

- Ben Swift gets back to training, on a disc-equipped Pinarello

We've spotted other riders getting time in on these new disc brakes bikes. Ben Swift, for example, who posted a photo out training on a Pinarello Dogma F8 Disc, suggesting the team have been encouraging its riders to get used to the disc brakes away from the intense pressure of a professional road race.

- Trek trials disc brakes at the Vuelta - and reaction is positive from the pro riding them

More on this story, with reaction, soon.