The tug of war between Sram and Uci continues and the Belgian Competition Authority, to which the company had turned, has accepted the request to suspend the restrictions on the maximum gear ratio to be used in races. Obviously, communications from both parties have been issued. Let's start with Sram:

"SRAM welcomes the decision by the Belgian Competition Authority to suspend the UCI restrictions on maximum gear ratio proposed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) ahead of the Tour of Guangxi." The College's conclusions prohibit the protocol in future events. Although the immediate restrictions have been suspended, the broader antitrust case continues.

On October 3rd, SRAM participated in an urgent hearing at the BCA Competition Guarantee College in Brussels to challenge the new gear ratio restriction imposed by the UCI, a fundamentally unfair rule for cyclists, teams, and SRAM itself.

On September 17th, the BCA initiated a formal antitrust proceeding under European and Belgian competition laws. Nine professional cycling teams voluntarily joined the proceeding to oppose the restrictions. During the hearing, SRAM and the teams supported an open, non-discriminatory, and objective regulatory process in professional cycling that ensures equal conditions, promotes significant safety improvements, and respects cyclists' choices. "It's time to reshape how the sport's key stakeholders interact. The UCI, teams and cyclists, sponsors, race organizers, and the cycling industry must collaborate to build a better future for the sport and its fans. The best results are achieved when everyone has a seat at the table. We are more optimistic than ever that through open communication and shared objectives, we can create a safer and more inclusive sport. Innovation and safety are not opposing forces, but go hand in hand. Our goal is simple: an open, transparent, and participatory process that brings significant safety improvements to races, protects cyclists' choices, and encourages innovation for the future of cycling," writes Ken Lousberg, SRAM's CEO.

And here is the UCI's position:

"The International Cycling Union (UCI) notes the provisional measures ordered by the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) that suspend the 'Maximum Gearing Test Protocol', which was to be implemented for the first time during the Tour of Guangxi from October 14 to 19. Following the provisional measures imposed by the BCA, the test planned for the Tour of Guangxi will not take place and the test protocol is currently suspended.

The UCI expresses its surprise at the intervention of a competition authority on a matter desired by all cycling actors, whose purpose was limited to analyzing the effects that limiting transmission ratios might have on rider speed and therefore safety, especially considering that the decision was issued by a Belgian authority in response to a complaint from a US company against a Swiss sports association regarding a test to be conducted on Chinese territory.

The UCI deeply regrets that rider safety does not seem to be a shared objective with those who challenged the implementation of the Maximum Gearing Test Protocol before the said Authority. However, the UCI will continue to act in the interest of rider safety, other group members, and spectators. The UCI announces that it will appeal the said decision. Modifications to the test protocol can also be made to allow the tests desired by all parties interested in professional road cycling.

The UCI will make no further comments at this stage."