Brussels, September 19, 2025 – The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has launched a formal investigation into the International Cycling Union (UCI) following a complaint over a newly adopted technical standard that limits the maximum gear ratio in professional road cycling events.
The rule, introduced on a test basis on August 1, restricts riders to a gearing equivalent of a 54-tooth chainring paired with an 11-tooth sprocket (54×11).
According to the complaint, the “Maximum Gearing” regulation is not objectively justified on safety grounds, was implemented without sufficient transparency, and could have discriminatory and disproportionate effects. In particular, it is alleged that the rule could distort competition in the market for high-performance transmission systems and unfairly impact professional teams.
Citing serious indications of a potential restriction of competition, the BCA’s Prosecutor General has opened the inquiry, which will determine whether the UCI’s decision violates rules prohibiting anticompetitive agreements and/or amounts to abuse of dominance.
The BCA emphasized that the opening of an investigation does not prejudge the outcome, and the UCI will be fully involved in the proceedings.
