Triathlon Rule Changes That Could Come After the SRAM/UCI Legal Drama

May 30, 2026

Late last year, SRAM took legal action UCI over the UCI’s proposed gear ratio limits, claiming that these rules were both not grounded in safety and effectively anti-competitive. An administrative panel agreed, citing that the rules lacked evidence that a gear ratio limit would, in fact, make for safer riding. The UCI appealed.

Ten days ago, a Belgian administrative authority released its decision in the UCI’s appeal. Top line: SRAM has won, and 10-tooth geared rear cassettes aren’t going anywhere. But that’s just the start of the story. The legal theory the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) advances to base its decision off of could have wide-ranging implications for any sport that legislates advances in technology — and especially triathlon. SLOWTWITCH